Excellent
late Middle English (in the general sense ‘outstanding’ in either a good or bad way): from Old French, from Latin excellent- ‘being pre-eminent’, from excellere (see excel). The current appreciatory sense dates from the early 17th century.
wiktionary
From Middle English excellent, from Old French excellent, from Latin excellēns(“elevated, exalted”), present participle of excellō(“elevate, exult”), equivalent to excel + -ent.
etymonline
excellent (adj.)
"unexcelled, distinguished for superior merit of any kind, of surpassing character or quality, uncommonly valuable for any reason, remarkably good," mid-14c., from Old French excellent "outstanding, excellent," from Latin excellentem (nominative excellens) "towering, prominent, distinguished, superior, surpassing," present participle of excellere "surpass, be superior; to rise, 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: Excellently.
