Added 9 October 2026
nonpareil
/nɒnpəˈɹeɪ(l)/ adjective
Latin root: pāriculus Wiktionary
adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about nonpareil at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- Unequalled, unrivalled; unique. .mw-parser-output .defdate{font-size:smaller}
noun
- A person or thing that has no equal; a paragon.
- The blue underwing or Clifden nonpareil (Catocala fraxini), a species of moth distributed across the Palearctic; also any of a number of moths of other species. In full nonpareil parrot: an eastern rosella, of species Platycercus eximius, a rosella (parrot) native to southeastern Australia. A painted bunting (Passerina ciris), a brightly-coloured finch native to North America. In full nonpareil apple: an apple tasting both sweet and tart which ripens very late in the season; also, the tree producing this fruit.
- The blue underwing or Clifden nonpareil (Catocala fraxini), a species of moth distributed across the Palearctic; also any of a number of moths of other species.
Origin
From Late Middle English non-parail (“unparalleled, nonpareil”) [and other forms], from Middle French nonpareille, nonpareil (“unparalleled”) (obsolete), from non- (prefix meaning ‘not’) + pareil (“alike, like, same”). Pareil is derived from Old French pareil, from Late Latin pāriculus (“equal; like; of a number: even”), from Latin pār (“equal; like; of a number: even; suitable”) + -culus (a variant of -ulus (suffix forming diminutives)).
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)