Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Preeminence \Pre*["e]m"i*nence\, n. [F. pr['e]['e]minence, L.
   praeeminentia. See {Pre["e]minent}.]
   The quality or state of being pre["e]minent; superiority in
   prominence or in excellence; distinction above others in
   quality, rank, etc.; rarely, in a bad sense, superiority or
   notoriety in evil; as, pre["e]minence in honor.

         The pre["e]minence of Christianity to any other
         religious scheme.                        --Addison.

         Painful pre["e]minence! yourself to view Above life's
         weakness, and its comforts too.          --Pope.

         Beneath the forehead's walled pre["e]minence. --Lowell.

Source : WordNet®

preeminence
     n : high status importance owing to marked superiority; "a
         scholar of great eminence" [syn: {eminence}, {distinction},
          {note}]