The magic word was—‘Excelsior!’Excelsior is a cry of ascendancy, supremacy, mastery, greatness. It is a charm for gaining the upper hand. The silvery tones of this heart-stirring magic word “put a soul in every bell / To triumph o’er the powers of hell—Excelsior!” (Thomas Bracken, “Longfellow,” Musings in Maoriland, 1890). In his poem “Excelsior,” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow likened the word to a sigh, an oft-repeated prayer, the accents of an unknown tongue, and a falling star. Excelsior is of Latin origin, ex meaning “beyond” and celsus meaning “lofty.” It is typically taken to mean "ever upward."
—Roy Thomas, Stan Lee’s Amazing Marvel Universe (2006)
Create pure wonder and awe whenever you speak.
A one-of-a-kind resource for magicians and word lovers, exploring the most intriguing magic words and phrases from around the world.
The creative and innovative close-up magician, Rick Johnsson, ended each of his long-running columns "Come A Little Closer" with the imperative "Excelsior!"
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