Excel

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late Middle English: from Latin excellere, from ex- ‘out, beyond’ + celsus ‘lofty’.

wiktionary

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From Middle English excellen, from Old French exceller, from Latin excellere, excelsum; ex(“out”) + *cellō, an unattested verb root found in culmen(“height, top”); Compare French exceller. See also culminate, column.

etymonline

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excel (v.)

c. 1400, transitive, "to surpass, be superior to;" early 15c., intransitive, "be remarkable for superiority, surpass others," from Latin excellere "to rise, surpass, be superior, be eminent," from ex "out from" (see ex-) + -cellere "rise high, tower," related to celsus "high, lofty, great," from PIE root *kel- (2) "to be prominent; hill." Related: Excelled; excelling.