paramount

/ˈper-ə-ˌmau̇nt/

Anglo-French paramont, from par by (from Latin per) + amunt above, from a to (from Latin ad) + munt mountain

adjective

  1. superior to all others : supreme

a matter of paramount importance

dominant predominant paramount preponderant mean superior to all others in influence or importance. dominant applies to something that is uppermost because ruling or controlling. predominant applies to something that exerts, often temporarily, the most marked influence.

noun

  1. a supreme ruler

geographical name

  1. city in southwestern California north of Long Beach population 54,098