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excelsior

Pronunciation: /ɛkˈsɛlsɪɔː/
Definition of excelsior

noun

  • 1used in the names of hotels and products to indicate superior quality:they stayed at the Excelsior
  • 2 [mass noun] North American softwood shavings used for packing fragile goods or stuffing furniture.

Origin:

late 18th century (as an exclamation): from Latin, comparative of excelsus, from ex- 'out, beyond' + celsus 'lofty'

excelsior in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of excelsior in the US English dictionary
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