excel

 
Pronunciation: /ɪkˈsɛl, ɛk-/

verb (excels, excelling, excelled)

[no object]
  • be exceptionally good at or proficient in an activity or subject: she excelled at landscape painting
  • (excel oneself) British perform exceptionally well: the keeper excelled himself to keep out an Elliott header

Origin:

late Middle English: from Latin excellere, from ex- 'out, beyond' + celsus 'lofty'

Spelling rule

Double the l when adding endings which begin with a vowel to words which end in a vowel plus l (as in travel): (excels, excelling, excelled).