nonpareil

• POS: Adjective, Noun
• HYPHEN: non=pa=reil

CIDE DICTIONARY

nonpareil, n. [See Nonpareil, a. ].

•  Something of unequaled excellence; a peerless thing or person; a nonesuch; -- often used as a name.  [1913 Webster]
•  A size of type next smaller than minion and next larger than agate (or ruby).  [1913 Webster]

  " This line is printed in the type called nonpareil."  [1913 Webster]
•  A beautifully colored finch (Passerina ciris), native of the Southern United States. The male has the head and neck deep blue, rump and under parts bright red, back and wings golden green, and the tail bluish purple. Called also painted bunting and painted finch.  [1913 Webster]
•  A small sphere, less than 1 mm diamter, of colored sugar, used to decorate confections; -- usually used in the plural as though the name of a substance; as, sprinkled with nonpareils.  [PJC]
•  A type of candy chocolate consisting of a small flat disk of chocolate, less than one inch diameter, having nonpareils{4} sprinkled on the top; as, she ate a box of nonpareils at the movie.  [PJC]

nonpareil, a. [F., from non not + pareil equal, fr. LL. pariculus, dim. of L. par equal. See Non, and Pair, Peer.].

 Having no equal; peerless.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

nonpareil, adj. & n.
--adj. unrivalled or unique.
--n. such a person or thing.

Etymology

F f. pareil equal f. pop.L pariculus dimin. of L par

THESAURUS

nonpareil

A per se, ace, beau ideal, boss, champion, chief, choice, chosen, commander, cream, dean, elect, elite, exemplar, fat, flower, fugleman, genius, good example, head, higher-up, ideal, jewel, laureate, leader, man of men, master, mirror, model, ne plus ultra, nonesuch, optimum, paragon, pattern, phoenix, pick, prime, principal, prize, prodigy, queen, quintessence, ruler, select, senior, shining example, standard, star, superior, superlative, superman, superstar, the best, the best ever, the greatest, the most, the tops, the very best, top dog, virtuoso

ROGET THESAURUS

nonpareil

Goodness

N goodness, excellence, merit, virtue, value, worth, price, super-excellence, supereminence, superiority, perfection, coup de maitre, masterpiece, chef d'ouvre, prime, flower, cream, elite, pick, A, nonesuch, nonpareil, creme de la creme, flower of the flock, cock of the roost, salt of the earth, champion, prodigy, tidbit, gem, gem of the first water, bijou, precious stone, jewel, pearl, diamond, ruby, brilliant, treasure, good thing, rara avis, one in a thousand, beneficence, good man, harmless, hurtless, unobnoxious, innocuous, innocent, inoffensive, beneficial, valuable, of value, serviceable, advantageous, edifying, profitable, salutary, favorable, propitious fair, good, good as gold, excellent, better, superior, above par, nice, fine, genuine, best, choice, select, picked, elect, recherche, rare, priceless, unparagoned, unparalleled, superlatively, good, bully, crackajack, giltedged, superfine, superexcellent, of the first water, first-rate, first-class, high- wrought, exquisite, very best, crack, prime, tiptop, capital, cardinal, standard, inimitable, admirable, estimable, praiseworthy, pleasing, couleur de rose, precious, of great price, costly, worth its weight in gold, worth a Jew's eye, priceless, invaluable, inestimable, precious as the apple of the eye, tolerable, up to the mark, unexceptionable, unobjectionable, satisfactory, tidy, in good condition, in fair condition, fresh, sound, beneficially, well, Jewels five words long, long may such goodness live!, the luxury of doing good.