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nonpareil
[ non-puh-rel ]
/ ˌnɒn pəˈrɛl /
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This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
adjective
having no equal; peerless.
noun
a person or thing having no equal.
a small pellet of colored sugar for decorating candy, cake, and cookies.
a flat, round, bite-sized piece of chocolate covered with this sugar.
Printing.
- a 6-point type.
- a slug occupying 6 points of space between lines.
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Origin of nonpareil
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English nonparail(le), from Middle French nonpareil, “unrivalled, peerless,” equivalent to non- non- + pareil “equal,” from Vulgar Latin pariculus, Late Latin pāriculus, a diminutive adjective and noun formed from Latin pār (inflectional stem pāri- “equal, an equal”) + -culus diminutive suffix; see -cle1
Words nearby nonpareil
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use nonpareil in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for nonpareil
nonpareil
/ (ˈnɒnpərəl, ˌnɒnpəˈreɪl) /
noun
a person or thing that is unsurpassed or unmatched; peerless example
(formerly) a size of printers' type equal to 6 point
US a small bead of coloured sugar used to decorate cakes, biscuits, etc
mainly US a flat round piece of chocolate covered with this sugar
adjective
having no match or equal; peerless
Word Origin for nonpareil
C15: from French, from non- + pareil same
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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