Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Preeminent \Pre*["e]m"i*nent\, a. [L. praeminens, -entis, p. pr.
   praeminere to be prominent, to surpass: cf. F.
   pr['e]['e]minent. See {Pre-}, and {Eminent}.]
   Eminent above others; prominent among those who are eminent;
   superior in excellence; surpassing, or taking precedence of,
   others; rarely, surpassing others in evil, or in bad
   qualities; as, pre["e]minent in guilt.

         In goodness and in power pre["e]minent.  --Milton.

Source : WordNet®

preeminent
     adj : greatest in importance or degree or significance or
           achievement; "our greatest statesmen"; "the country's
           leading poet"; "a preeminent archeologist" [syn: {greatest},
            {leading(a)}]