eminent
/ˈɛmɪnənt
/adjective
1(Of a person) famous and respected within a particular sphere: one of the world’s most eminent statisticians...
- Nevertheless, it is very prestigious, and is often awarded to eminent people in the sciences and arts.
- Here are some excerpts from the opinions expressed by some eminent personalities.
- These four participants will then be sent to Mumbai for training and will be groomed by eminent people in the film industry.
Synonyms
illustrious, distinguished, renowned, esteemed, pre-eminent, notable, noteworthy, great, prestigious, important, significant, influential, outstanding, noted, of note;
famous, celebrated, prominent, well known, lionized, acclaimed;
superior, of high standing, high-ranking, exalted, revered, elevated, august, grand, lofty, venerable, foremost, leading, paramount, legendary
informal big-time, big/major league
2 [attributive] (Of a positive quality) present to a notable degree: the book’s scholarship and eminent readability...
- The quality is eminent, but the case does have a fundamental flaw - the lack of cooling.
- It does seem an eminent candidate for discreet burial, doesn't it?
Synonyms
obvious, clear, conspicuous, marked, singular, signal, outstanding;
total, complete, utter, absolute, thorough, perfect, downright, sheer
Origin
Late Middle English: from Latin eminent- 'jutting, projecting', from the verb eminere.
Eminent ‘outstanding’ and eminence (Middle English) go back to Latin eminere ‘jut, project’. The French expression éminence grise, literally ‘grey eminence’ for someone who has power without an official position, has been used in English since the 1930s. The term was originally used in French of His Eminence the Cardinal Richelieu's grey-cloaked private secretary, Père Joseph (1577–1638). The Latin eminere is also found in pre-eminent (Late Middle English) and prominent (Late Middle English).