transferred and figurative. Said of persons; esp. in phrases, †gem of chastity, gem of jollity, gem of virtue, etc. (obsolete).

transferred of persons. Cf. ‘flower’.

An excellent personality. Obsolete.

A model of excellence; a paragon. Obsolete.

an exceptional or powerful man. Now rare.

transferred and figurative. Anything valued and preserved as precious; also of a person, a ‘jewel’, ‘gem’ (colloquial); also as an affectionate…

A person of outstanding merit; a person who serves as a model of some quality.

Phrases. (after John v. 35): a person conspicuous for some excellence.

In classical mythology, the swan was sacred to Apollo (hence Apollo's swan is used allusively) and to Venus (occasionally, as by Shakespeare…

man of wax, lad of wax: used as a term of emphatic commendation. Now archaic and dialect (see Eng. Dial. Dict).

Cf. rare bird n. at rare, adj.1 adv.1n. compounds 2. A person of a type rarely encountered; an unusual or exceptional person; a paragon.

Now usually with lower-case initial. Originally: a person who resembles the Titans (sense A. 2b) in going against or challenging the established…

Often in the Shakespearean phrase, choice spirit.

An excellent personality; a ‘dignity’. Obsolete.

A person of inestimable merit.

An inimitable person.

cock of the walk: (chiefly with the or without article) a person, typically a man, who is dominant or pre-eminent within a particular sphere or…

One who surpasses or excels.

One who shines. One who excels or is eminent.

transferred. One who is distinguished or eminent in achievement; one who is very clever or good at something.

colloquial as a term of hearty commendation: A person of surpassing excellence; a first-rate fellow; a ‘brick’.

a ‘tip-top’ person or thing; in quot. 1822, applied to a glass filled to the very top, a bumper.

figurative and in figurative contexts. A person who ‘shines’ or has a brilliant reputation, esp. one who is illustrious, influential, or accomplished…

colloquial (originally U.S., later chiefly Australian and New Zealand) An admirable or excellent person (without reference to physical beauty). Also i…

One who or that which soars, in various senses.

Sc. and north. var. of trump, n.2 Phrases: †to play trumph about (obs.): to vie in achievements with; what's trumph? what is happening? what is the…

slang. A remarkable or outstanding person. Cf. daisy, n. 5. Obsolete. rare.

a man who exhibits the virtues of an idealized man of the Renaissance; (now usually more generally) one with many talents or interests, esp. in the…

An example or model of virtue worthy of imitation; a paragon.

In extended use. humorous. A very fine or redoubtable example of a particular quality. rare.

In Nietzschean thought (also with capital initial): an ideal superior man of the future who transcends conventional Christian morality to create and…

figurative. A person exceptional in some (specified) way.

figurative. U.S. slang. A person remarkable for his or her ability, cleverness, energy, etc.; (also occasionally) a remarkable thing.

Any person or thing considered to be among the best in a specified field; an outstanding achiever, performer, etc. Frequently in plural.