eminence

[ em-uh-nuhns ]

noun

1. high station, rank, or repute:

   philosophers of eminence.

   Synonyms: conspicuousness, fame, note

   Antonyms: obscurity

2. a high place or part; a hill or elevation; height.

   Synonyms: prominence

3. (initial capital letter) Roman Catholic Church. a title of honor, applied to cardinals (usually preceded by His or Your ).
4. Anatomy. an elevation or projection, especially on a bone.

Eminence

¹

/ ˈɛmɪnəns /

noun

1. preceded byYour or His a title used to address or refer to a cardinal

eminence

²

/ ˈɛmɪnəns /

noun

1. a position of superiority, distinction, high rank, or fame
2. a high or raised piece of ground
3. anatomy a projection of an organ or part

Word History and Origins

Origin of eminence¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Anglo-French from Latin ēminentia, equivalent to ēmin- (base of ēminēre “to stand out”) + -entia noun sufffix; eminent, -ence

Word History and Origins

Origin of eminence¹

C17: from French, from Latin ēminentia a standing out; see eminent

Example Sentences

“He was very bitter,” says longtime Granite State Republican eminence and former state attorney general Tom Rath.

From The Daily Beast

The eminence was asked, the next morning, “Well, you've met the young Yeats— what did you think of him?”

From The Daily Beast

Or, in the case of Bob Dole, they retired to a sort of a bipartisan eminence and were mostly forgotten.

From The Daily Beast

Tayoun served almost three years, but remained an eminence on the Philadelphia political scene.

From The Daily Beast

“Mr. de la Renta is far more a hot dog than an eminence grise of American fashion” Horyn wrote in her review.

From The Daily Beast

All parties have borne testimony to the value of his services, and the eminence of his talents.

From Project Gutenberg

He who has attained it grows giddy, and the fiercest winds are summoned to blow him from his eminence.

From Project Gutenberg

He was the son of a miller, and raised himself to eminence by his great talent and genius as a painter.

From Project Gutenberg

There was another theory promulgated many years back by certain people of some degree of eminence in their own walk in life.

From Project Gutenberg

We did not perceive the little town until we had surmounted the last eminence and were in its immediate vicinity.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• greatness
• prestige
• prominence
• renown