eminent
Often confused with imminent
- 1Widely recognized and respected as important, especially in a particular field; more broadly, remarkable or great.
The report was reviewed by a panel of eminent scientists before it was published.
Her father, an eminent heart surgeon, rarely talked about his work at home.
Similardistinguished, prominent, notable, noteworthy, outstanding
Note
Most often it sits before a profession: an eminent historian, scientist, surgeon or novelist, someone whose standing in a field is beyond question. Keep it apart from imminent, its near-twin in sound and spelling, which means about to happen. Emanate looks like a relative too, but it comes from a different Latin verb, one meaning "to flow", and has no family tie.
- 2Physically high or lofty, rising above its surroundings.
The abbey was built on an eminent ridge, visible from every farm in the valley.
An eminent spire rose above the rooftops of the old town.
Similarhigh, lofty, elevated, towering, tall
Note
The literal sense stays closest to Latin ēmineō, "I project, I protrude": something eminent stands up out of its surroundings, like a ridge or a spire. It now reads as archaic, so towering or prominent is the everyday choice for height, and a modern reader will hear eminent as the "distinguished" meaning unless the context is plainly physical.
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Origin
From Middle French éminent, from Latin ēminēns (ēminentis), the present participle of ēmineō ("I project, I protrude"), from ex- ("out of, from") + mineō, which is related to mons (English mount). Compare imminent. It is unrelated to emanate, which comes from mānō ("I flow").