prae-cellens

prae-cello, ĕre (collat. form, acc. to the 2d conj.; pres. praecellet, Plaut. Ps. 2, 3, 13; perh. originally written praecellit), v. a. and n., to rise above others.

Act., to surpass, excel any one (post-Aug.;

syn. antecello): praecellere aliquam fecunditate,

Tac. A. 2, 43; Dig. 50, 2, 6.—

To distinguish one's self, to excel (syn. excello):

ut quisque fortunā utitur, Ita praecellet,

Plaut. Ps. 2, 3, 14:

praecellere mobilitate,

Lucr. 2, 161:

odore et suavitate,

Plin. 15, 21, 23, § 85:

dignitate inter aliquos,

Dig. 2, 14, 8:

praecellere per insignem nobilitatem et eloquentiam,

Tac. A. 3, 24.—

Alicui.

To be superior to, to excel:

mortalibus,

Sil. 15, 74.—

To preside or rule over (Tacitean):

genti,

Tac. A. 12, 15.—Hence, prae-cellens, entis, P. a., surpassing, excellent, eminent, distinguished (class.).

Of persons:

vir et animo et virtute praecellens,

Cic. Balb. 10, 25.— Sup.:

vir omnibus rebus praecellentissimus,

Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 44, § 97.—

Of things:

uniones magnitudine praecellentes,

Plin. 9, 35, 56, § 113:

formā praecellente,

id. 7, 53, 54, § 184:

vir ingenii praecellentis,

Gell. 19, 8, 3.— Comp.:

arbor pomo et suavitate praecellentior,

Plin. 12, 6, 12, § 24.