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.