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excelsior Definition

☆ ex·cel·sior (ek sel′sē ôr′, ik-; for n., --ər)

adjective,

higher; always upward: used as a motto (as on the New York State seal)

Etymology: L, compar. of excelsus, lofty, high < pp. of excellere, excel: excelsior < orig. use as trademark

noun

long, thin wood shavings used for packing breakable things or as stuffing in some furniture

excelsior Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • woodland: The woods show mosaics and transitions to other types, including more acidic beech woodland and oak Quercus and ash Fraxinus excelsior woodland.
  • apartment: Excelsior Apartments * Located in the center of San Antonio and 500m from the beach the 1 star Excelsior apartments are well located.

Noun used with modifier

  • fraxinus: Common Ash Latin name: Fraxinus excelsior Origin: Native The ash is an important timber tree.
  • ash: The acidic soils support sweet chestnut Castanea sativa, sessile oak Quercus petraea, and ash Fraxinus excelsior.
Excelsior Quotes

The shades of night were falling fast, As through an Alpine village passed Ayouth, who bore,'mid snow and ice, A banner with a strange device, Excelsior!

—Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth

Browse dictionary entries near excelsior

  1. ‹ excelling
  2. ‹ excellently
  3. ‹ excellent
  4. ‹ excellency
  5. ‹ excellence
  6. ‹ excel
  7. ‹ exceedingly
  8. ‹ exceeding
  9. ‹ exceed
  10. ‹ excavator
  1. except ›
  2. excepting ›
  3. exception ›
  4. exceptionable ›
  5. exceptional ›
  6. exceptionalism ›
  7. exceptionally ›
  8. exceptive ›
  9. excerpt ›
  10. excess ›