Of chief concern or importance: tending first to one's paramount needs.
Supreme in rank, power, or authority. See Synonyms at dominant.
n. One that has the highest rank, power, or authority.
[Anglo-Norman paramont, above : par, by (from Latin per; see per1 in Indo-European roots) + amont, above, upward; see amount.] par'a·mount'cy n., par'a·mount'ly adv.
Par·a·mount (pār'ə-mount') A city of southern California southeast of Los Angeles. Originally a dairy center, it became industrialized after the 1950s. Population: 56,400.
1531, from Anglo-Fr. paramont "above" (in place, order, degree), 1339, from O.Fr. par "by" + amont "up," from a mont "upward." The whole from L. per ad montem, lit. "to the hill."