excelsior
English
Etymology
From Latin excelsior, comparative of excelsus (“high”). The name of the stuffing material was originally a trademark.
Pronunciation
Adjective
excelsior (not comparable)
- (archaic) Loftier, yet higher; ever upward
Noun
excelsior (uncountable)
- Stuffing material (as for furniture and mattresses) made of slender, curled wood shavings, as a substitute for hair.
- 1942, Elliot Paul, The Last Time I Saw Paris, Sickle Moon 2001, p. 91:
- These little mangers, with baby dolls representing Jesus, porcelean Josephs and Marys, wide-eyed cows of papier-mâché, and excelsior for straw, were purchased by pious parents for well-behaved children at Christmas-tide.
- 1942, Elliot Paul, The Last Time I Saw Paris, Sickle Moon 2001, p. 91:
Translations
An originally trademarked name for stuffing material (as for furniture and mattresses) made of slender, curled wood shavings
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Latin
Etymology
From excelsus (“elevated, lofty”).
Pronunciation
Adjective
excelsior (comparative of excelsus)
Inflection
- Third declension, comparative variation (3:COM).
| Number | Singular | Plural | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Case \ Gender | M.F. | N. | MM.FF. | NN. | |
| nominative | excelsior | excelsius | excelsiōrēs | excelsiōra | |
| genitive | excelsiōris | excelsiōris | excelsiōrum | excelsiōrum | |
| dative | excelsiōrī | excelsiōrī | excelsiōribus | excelsiōribus | |
| accusative | excelsiōrem | excelsius | excelsiōrēs | excelsiōra | |
| ablative | excelsiōre | excelsiōre | excelsiōribus | excelsiōribus | |
| vocative | excelsior | excelsius | excelsiōrēs | excelsiōra | |