A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1492-1512, 1569-1596
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Excell, v. [ME. (c 1430), OF. exceller, L. excellere.]
1. tr. To surpass in some respect. a1500 Henr. Fab. 1617 (B).
The profound wit of God omnipotent … , Excelland fer all manis argument 1492 Myll Spectakle of Luf 282/12.
For invye that he excellit his fallowis he was mvrdryst a1570-86 Maitland Folio MS clxx. 69.
A thousand tymes ȝe thame excell ilk on 1596 Dalr. I. 106/2.
The authoritie, quhairthrouch sche excellis the rest
2. To be superior or pre-eminent. 1492 Myll Spectakle of Luf 282/18.
The king Nysus … had a dochter of ȝoung age that exellit in bewte c1500-c1512 Dunb. xlix. 1.
In vice most vicius he excellis, That with the vice of tressone mellis a1570-86 Maitland Folio MS xl. 34.
Ȝe ar ane michtie natioun, Excelland in presumptioun 1596 Dalr. I. 21/19.
Quha amang thame do excell ar deir boght and gyue a gret price
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"Excell v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 14 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/excell>
