Definition of paramount

The word "paramount" originally came from the Middle English word "paraimounte," which was a combination of the Old French word "par" meaning 'equally' or 'parallel,' and the Old French word "aimounte" meaning 'lord.' This dual meaning reflected the original use of the word in the 14th century, where it was used in a legal context to describe a co-lord or co-feudatory, that is, someone who held an equal and parallel right to the feudal lands being disputed. Over time, the meaning of "paramount" evolved, particularly in the context of law and political science. In the 16th century, it came to be used to describe superior authority or jurisdiction, and by the 17th century, it had taken on the modern meaning of "supreme" or "preeminent." Today, "paramount" is commonly used to describe someone or something that has a higher or more important position than others in their category. For example, a company might describe its service as "paramount" in their industry, meaning that it is superior or most important among all the other services in that industry. Similarly, a Government might protect certain rights as "paramount," meaning that they are more important than other rights or considerations. In summary, the origin of the word "paramount" lies in the legal context of co-lords and co-feudatories, but over time, it has come to represent a position of superiority or preeminence, whether in law, politics, or everyday language use.