Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

About this entry:
First published 1951 (DOST Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

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 Spect. 282/12.
For invye that he excellit his fallowis he was mvrdryst a1570-86 Maitl. F. 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 Spect. 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 Maitl. F. 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