(a.) 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, preeminent in guilt.

absolute acmatic all-absorbing apical arch ascendant authoritarian authoritative authorized autocratic banner capital cardinal central champion chief clothed with authority commanding competent consequential considerable consummate controlling crowning dominant duly constituted eminent empowered ex officio first focal foremost governing great head headmost hegemonic hegemonistic highest imperative important incomparable influential leading magisterial main major master maximal maximum meridian meridional mighty momentous monocratic number one official outstanding overmost overriding overruling paramount potent powerful predominant premier preponderant prestigious prevailing primal primary prime principal prominent puissant ranking ruling senior sovereign star stellar substantial summital supereminent superior supreme surpassing tip-top top topflight topmost totalitarian towering transcendent ultimate unmatchable unsurpassable upmost uppermost vertical weighty zenithal