† precellency Obs.
[f. as prec. + -ency.]
The quality of being ‘precellent’; pre-eminence; with a and pl. an instance of this.
| 1557 Edgeworth Serm., 1 Pet. viii. 180 b, Sainte Peter knewe no precellencye or excellencye ouer a whole realme. 1616 R. Sheldon Rom. Mir. Antichristian 151 Any pre-eminence or precellencie giuen. 1640 G. Watts tr. Bacon's Adv. Learn. iv. iii. 207 There are many and great Precellencies of the soule of man, above the soules of beasts. 1658 W. Percy Compl. Swimmer v. 9 Fishes may challenge to themselves a precellency in Swimming. |