preëminence

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. The state or character of being preëminent; superiority; surpassing eminence; distinction; precedence.
2. n. A prerogative; a privilege; a right; a power.
3. n. Synonyms Precedence, etc. See priority.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. The quality or state of being preëminent; superiority in prominence or in excellence; distinction above others in quality, rank, etc.; rarely, in a bad sense, superiority or notoriety in evil.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. high status importance owing to marked superiority