How does the latin root of “egregious” relate to its English definition?

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The latin root of the word egregious is grex meaning flock which is also the root of many other English words that deal with groups or “flocks” (usually of people): aggregate, congregate, segregate, gregarious…

But I don’t see how the definition of egregious has anything to do with a flock or group.

egregious
[ih-gree-juh s] adjective

  1. extraordinary in some bad way; glaring; flagrant: an egregious
    mistake; an egregious liar.
  2. Archaic. distinguished or eminent.

Answer

Egregious (adj)

  • 1530s, "distinguished, eminent, excellent," from Latin egregius "distinguished, excellent, extraordinary," from the phrase ex grege "rising above the flock," from ex "out of" (see ex-) + grege, ablative of grex "a herd, flock"

Disapproving sense, now predominant, arose late 16c., originally ironic. It is not in the Latin word, which etymologically means simply "exceptional."

(Etymon)

Attribution
Source : Link , Question Author : sanpaco , Answer Author : Hank

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