Noblest

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈnoʊbl̩ɪst/

Definitions

1. The highest level of moral excellence or virtue that can be attributed to an individual signifies the utmost honor and integrity
2. A character remarkable for its admirable qualities stands out as the epitome of ethical standards and renown
3. An individual characterized by the highest virtues embodies supreme moral excellence and represents unparalleled honor and integrity

Etymology: "Noblest" is the superlative of "noble," and the adjective's own history is a story of rank giving way to character. Its Latin ancestor, "nobilis," meant "knowable" or "well-known" before it meant "high-born," because a person who was famous was one whose name everyone knew. From "nobilis" came Old French "noble," which English borrowed in the Middle English period, and the sense of high birth eventually gave way to the idea of moral excellence that "noblest" now carries. The word's relationship to Arabic is a false friend rather than a real link. Arabic "nabīl" looks and sounds similar, but it is unrelated, and the resemblance is pure coincidence. English also had its own word for the idea, "athel," from Old English "æþele," which was eventually displaced by the Latin-derived borrowing.

Synonyms: most honorable, most virtuous, most commendable, most elevated, most dignified

Antonyms: lowest, meanest, most base, most ignoble, most dishonorable