From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Preeminent \Pre*["e]m"i*nent\, a. [L. praeminens, -entis, p. pr.
praeminere to be prominent, to surpass: cf. F.
pr['e]['e]minent. See Pre-, and Eminent.]
Eminent above others; prominent among those who are eminent;
superior in excellence; surpassing, or taking precedence of,
others; rarely, surpassing others in evil, or in bad
qualities; as, pre["e]minent in guilt.
[1913 Webster]
In goodness and in power pre["e]minent. --Milton.
[1913 Webster]