ideal+excellence

  • 1Ideal — I*de al, a. [L. idealis: cf. F. id[ e]al.] 1. Existing in idea or thought; conceptional; intellectual; mental; as, ideal knowledge. [1913 Webster] 2. Reaching an imaginary standard of excellence; fit for a model; faultless; as, ideal beauty.… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 2excellence — excellence, merit, virtue, perfection are comparable when meaning a quality or feature of a person or thing that gives him or it especial worth or value. Excellence applies to a quality or feature in which the person or thing excels or surpasses… …

    New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • 3Ideal — I*de al, n. A mental conception regarded as a standard of perfection; a model of excellence, beauty, etc. [1913 Webster] The ideal is to be attained by selecting and assembling in one whole the beauties and perfections which are usually seen in… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 4ideal — adj *abstract, transcendent, transcendental Analogous words: Utopian (see AMBITIOUS): surpassing, peerless, *supreme Antonyms: actual ideal n pattern, exemplar, *model, example, standard, beau ideal, mirror Analogous words: * …

    New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • 5ideal — idealness, n. /uy dee euhl, uy deel /, n. 1. a conception of something in its perfection. 2. a standard of perfection or excellence. 3. a person or thing conceived as embodying such a conception or conforming to such a standard, and taken as a… …

    Universalium

  • 6ideal — /aɪˈdɪəl / (say uy dearl) noun 1. a conception of something in its highest perfection. 2. a standard of perfection or excellence. 3. a person or thing regarded as realising such a conception or conforming to such a standard, and taken as a model… …

  • 7ideal — i•de•al [[t]aɪˈdi əl, aɪˈdil[/t]] n. 1) a conception of something in its perfection 2) a standard of perfection or excellence 3) a person or thing conceived as embodying such a conception or standard and taken as a model for imitation 4) an… …

    From formal English to slang

  • 8ideal — I. adjective Etymology: Middle English ydeall, from Late Latin idealis, from Latin idea Date: 15th century 1. existing as an archetypal idea 2. a. existing as a mental image or in fancy or imagination only; broadly lacking practicality b.… …

    New Collegiate Dictionary

  • 9ideal — 1. adjective /aɪˈdɪəl,aɪˈdiː.əl/ a) Optimal; being the best possibility. The idea of ghosts is ridiculous in the extreme; and if you continue to be swayed by ideal terrors b) Perfect, flawless, having no defects. Life and death appeared to me… …

    Wiktionary

  • 10ideal — A standard of perfection. ego i. the part of the personality that comprises the goals, aspirations, and aims of the self, usually growing out of the emulation of a significant person with whom one has identified. * * * ide·al ī dē( ə)l, ī . adj… …

    Medical dictionary