supercilious

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˌsuː.pəˈsɪ.li.əs/ (UK); /ˌsu.pɚˈsɪ.li.əs/ (US)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Latin superciliosus (“haughty, arrogant”),^{[2][3][4][5][6]} from supercilium “eyebrow; haughtiness, pride”,^[2][3][4][5] from the raising of the eyebrow to express disdain,^[3][4] from super- “above” and -cilium “eyelid”,^[2][4][5] related to cēlāre “to hide”.^[3][4][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Haughtily contemptuous in character or manner (before 1529, implied in superciliously).^[3][7][4]

Semantic evolution

In the late 16th century the word also meant dictatorial, overbearing or censorious (1598).^[7] In zoology it is used in names of animals with a conspicuous stripe over the eye.^[7] The usual sense today is coolly and patronizingly haughty.^[5][2]

Timeline

• before 1529 – haughtily contemptuous.^[3][7]
• 1598 – overbearing, censorious.^[7]
• 1614 – Merriam-Webster's date.^[5]
• 1782 – in zoology, with a stripe over the eye.^[7]

Modern meaning

Adjective

1. Showing haughty disdain or contempt; coolly and patronizingly superior.

Word family

• superciliously
• superciliousness
• unsupercilious

Related words

• supercilium
• cilium

Usage notes

Random House lists arrogant and scornful as synonyms and humble as an antonym.^[6]

References

1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
3. ^ a b c d e f Barnhart, Robert K., ed. (1995), The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology, New York: HarperCollins
4. ^ a b c d e f Harper, Douglas, Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
5. ^ a b c d e f Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003), 11th ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
6. ^ a b Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1999), 2nd ed., New York: Random House
7. ^ a b c d e f Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press