peerless meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

peerless

adj

Etymology From Middle English pereles, perles; equivalent to peer + -less.

Without peer or equal; unparalleled, nonpareil. Of the highest quality, best.

Let's after him, / Whoſe care is gone before, to bid vs welcome: / It is a peerleſſe Kinſman.c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iv], page 134:
Having now seen himself mistaken in supposing Elfride to be peerless, nothing on earth could make him believe she was not so very bad after all.1872 September – 1873 July, Thomas Hardy, “‘XXXV’”, in A Pair of Blue Eyes. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), London: Tinsley Brothers, […], published 1873, →OCLC:

4 more examples

After wearying oneself with the acres of stuffy, sappy, expressionless babies that populate the canvases of the Old Masters in Italy, it is refreshing to stand before this peerless child and feel that thrill which tells you you are at last in the presence of the real thing.1880, Mark Twain [pseudonym] (Samuel L[anghorne] Clemens), “”, in A Tramp Abroad; […], Hartford, Conn.: American Publishing Company; London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC, page 579:
Telegram! Malachi Mulligan, The Ship, lower Abbey street. O, you peerless mummer! O, you priestified Kinchite!1922 February, James Joyce, “[9]”, in Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare and Company, […], →OCLC:
“Would you go into the dragon's lair, my peerless Wiglaf?”1961, Norma Lorre Goodrich, “Beowulf”, in The Medieval Myths, New York: The New American Library, page 47:
Foden has also grown into this World Cup, having scored against Wales and creating two goals here. England's midfield and attack is taking shape with perfect timing for what will be the sternest of tests against France and the peerless Mbappe.2022 December 4, Phil McNulty, “England 3-0 Senegal”, in BBC Sport: