Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1500-1600
Language: Anglo-French
Origin: paramont, from Old French par 'by' + amont 'above'

paramount

 adjective
     
par‧a‧mount formal
more important than anything else:
During a war the interests of the state are paramount, and those of the individual come last.
Women's role as mothers is of paramount importance to society.
—paramountcy noun [uncountable]
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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