eminent definition

English eminent definition

Etymology

From Middle French éminent, from Latin present participle ēminēns, ēminentis, from verb ēmineō (“I project, I protrude”), from ex- (“out of, from”) + mineō, related to mons (English mount). Compare with imminent. Unrelated to emanate, which is instead from mānō (“I flow”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɛmɪnənt/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Adjective

eminent (comparative more eminent, superlative most eminent)

1. Noteworthy, remarkable, great.

   Synonyms: remarkable, outstanding; see also Thesaurus:notable

   His eminent good sense has been a godsend to this project.

2. (of a person) Distinguished, important, noteworthy.

   Synonyms: distinguished, noteworthy; see also Thesaurus:notable

   In later years, the professor became known as an eminent historian.

   • 2018 February 28, Justine Jordan, “Asymmetry by Lisa Halliday review – a dizzying debut”, in The Guardian‎^[1]:

     “So. Miss Alice. Are you game?” The question is posed by an eminent novelist of about 70, who has sat on a Manhattan park bench and struck up conversation with a young woman reading a book.

3. (archaic) High, lofty.

   Synonyms: towering, prominent; see also Thesaurus:tall

Usage notes

Eminent and imminent are very similar sounds, and are weak rhymes; in some dialects, these may be confused. A typo of either word may result in a correction to the wrong word by spellchecking software. Eminent may also be confused with immanent, immanant, or emanate.

Derived terms

• eminence
• eminent domain
• eminently
• preeminent

Related terms

• imminent
• prominent

Translations

Further reading

• “eminent”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
• “eminent”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
• “eminent”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.

Anagrams

• T'ien-men, T'ien-mên, tinemen

Catalan eminent definition

Etymology

From Latin ēminentem.

Adjective

eminent m or f (masculine and feminine plural eminents)

1. eminent

Derived terms

• eminentment

Related terms

• eminència

Further reading

• “eminent” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.
• “eminent”, in Gran Diccionari de la Llengua Catalana, Grup Enciclopèdia Catalana, 2023
• “eminent” in Diccionari normatiu valencià, Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua.
• “eminent” in Diccionari català-valencià-balear, Antoni Maria Alcover and Francesc de Borja Moll, 1962.

German eminent definition

Etymology

Borrowed from French éminent, from Latin eminens.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [emiˈnɛnt]
• Hyphenation: emi‧nent

• Audio

  (file)

Adjective

eminent (strong nominative masculine singular eminenter, comparative eminenter, superlative am eminentesten)

1. eminent

Declension

Further reading

• “eminent” in Duden online
• “eminent” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache

Latin eminent definition

Verb

ēminent

1. third-person plural present active indicative of ēmineō

Norwegian Bokmål eminent definition

Adjective

eminent (indefinite singular eminent, definite singular and plural eminente)

1. eminent

Norwegian Nynorsk eminent definition

Adjective

eminent (indefinite singular eminent, definite singular and plural eminente)

1. eminent

Romanian eminent definition

Etymology

Borrowed from French éminent, from Latin eminens.

Adjective

eminent m or n (feminine singular eminentă, masculine plural eminenți, feminine and neuter plural eminente)

1. notable

Declension