excellent

将“excellent”联想为“ex”如同超（exceed）过“cel”如椭圆（circular，代表完美圆形），“lent”则像“lent”借来的好品质。整个单词可以想象为一个超完美品质（像椭圆一样完美）被“借来”或“超出”的评价。

excellent 极好的

来自excel, 擅长，突出。

excellent

excellent: [14] The underlying notion of excellent is of physically ‘rising above’ others. It comes via Old French from the present participle of Latin excellere. This was a compound verb formed from the prefix ex- ‘out’ and a hypothetical verbal element *cellere, which evidently meant something like ‘rise, be high’: it derived ultimately from an Indo-European base *kol-, *kel- which also produced English column, culminate, and hill.

There is little evidence of its literal use in Latin; the metaphorical ‘be outstanding’ evidently elbowed it aside at an early stage. (English acquired excel itself in the 15th century, incidentally.)
=> column, culminate, hill

excellent (adj.)

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" (see excel). Related: Excellently.

1. The regions are interconnected by an excellent highway system.

那些地区通过完善的公路系统相互连接。

2. Both offer excellent value at around £90 for a double room.

两家的双人客房都报出了大约90英镑的超值价格。

3. Large overseas-based trusts are an excellent each way bet.

大型海外基金的投资前景非常好。

4. She has always had a high reputation for her excellent short stories.

她一直因其优秀的短篇小说享有很高的声望。

5. This is an excellent time for affairs of the heart.

这是谈情说爱的绝佳时机。

【prime, first-rate, choice, select, splendid, excellent】
这组词都有“极好的”的意思，其区别是：
prime: 常指最重要、价值最高的东西，也可以表示最佳、最典型或最高的人或物。
first-rate: 多用于指对抽象事物的主观评估，有时含夸大、自负的意味。
choice: 指通过精心挑选达到水平，尤指罕见或品质精良的商品。
select: 指精挑细选出来作为范例的物或人。
splendid: 口语常用词，指非常令人满意，显得完美无缺。
excellent: 通常指事物在等级品位以及职位级别等方面的最优或接近最优。