Etymology

excel

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Today it means: To surpass someone or something; to be better or do better than someone or something. Full definition →

Middle English excellen ← Old French exceller ← Latin excellere
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excel · verb1

  1. Latin · derived fromexcellere
  2. Old French · derived fromexceller
  3. Middle English · inherited fromexcellen
  4. English todayexcel

From Middle English excellen, from Old French exceller, from Latin excellere, excelsum; ex (“out”) + *cellō, an unattested verb root found in culmen (“height, top”); Compare French exceller. See also culminate, column.

Excel · proper noun2

From excel. The name was selected in 1984 by Microsoft after being submitted by a branch manager and is thought to convey superiority over other spreadsheet programs, especially then dominant Lotus 1-2-3.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.