† 1. On high; in a lofty or elevated position.
1620. Venner, Via Recta, Introd. 5. Those houses and habitations are best, which are somewhat eminently situated on pure & firme ground [etc.].
1675. Ogilby, Brit., 10. A Bush … eminently situate.
† 2. Conspicuously, so as to attract the eye. Obs.
1610. Guillim, Heraldry, III. xii. (1660), 157. Their commander being so eminently clad.
1667. E. Chamberlayne, St. Gt. Brit., I. III. viii. (1743), 191. In the Middle of the Church is he, or she, eminently placed in the Sight of all the People.
1677. Hale, Prim. Orig. Man., I. iii. 89. The great Rocks in the Sea are … eminently visible to this day.
1774. Johnson, in Boswell (1831), III. 147. The moon shone eminently bright.
3. In an eminent or especial degree; signally, notably.
1641. Bp. J. Hall, Serm., in Rem. Wks. (1660), II. 59. That all Nations should agree upon an universall cessation of armes … it must needs be the Lords doing so much more eminently.
1746. M. Tomlinson, Prot. Birthr., 3. Nothing … more Eminently distinguishes Man from the Brute Creation.
1817. W. Boswell, in Parl. Deb., 805. Gentlemen who had eminently served their country.
1833. Ht. Martineau, Three Ages, iii. 105. Nowhere does virtue more eminently fail of its earthly recompense than in the church.
1851. Carlyle, Sterling, II. iv. (1872), 118. A painter’s eye … he … eminently had.
4. Philos. and Theol. See quot. 1751.
In scholastic theology God is said to possess the excellences of human character not formally (i.e., according to their definition, which implies creature limitation) but eminently (L. eminenter), i.e., in a higher sense. In wider use, the word is nearly equivalent to virtually.
1640. Fuller, Joseph’s Coat (1867), 58. But, virtually and eminently … all his bones were broken, that is, contrited and grinded with grief and sorrow.
a. 1665. J. Goodwin, Filled w. the Spirit (1867), 211. The apostle … may be said eminently, though not formally, to have declared him [the Holy Ghost] to be God.
1691–8. Norris, Pract. Disc. (1711), III. 15. Fire is Eminently and Potentially, though not Formally hot.
1750. Chambers, Cycl., Eminently … in the schools, is used in contradistinction to formally … to denote that a thing possesses, or contains any other in a more perfect or higher manner than is required to a formal possession thereof.
1845. J. H. Newman, Ess. Developm., 323. A … university of sciences, containing all sciences either ‘formally’ or ‘eminently.’
† b. Math. One equation is said to contain another eminently, when the latter is a particular case of the former. Obs.
1798. [see EMINENTIAL].
¶ † 5. Of peril, danger: Imminently, urgently.
1646. H. Lawrence, Comm. Angels, Ep. Ded. 1 b. In this warre therefore, to which my leisure more eminently expos’d me.
1670. G. H., Hist. Cardinals, II. I. 114. Their ruine and destruction I see most eminently and unavoidably at hand.
