hyperbolicus

Forms

hyperbolicus (feminine hyperbolica, neuter hyperbolicum); first/second-declension adjective^[1] It is also spelled iperbolicus and yperbolicus.^[2][3][4]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek ὑπερβολικός (huperbolikós, “extravagant”),^[1][2][5][6] from ὑπερβολή (huperbolḗ, “extravagance, literally a throwing beyond”),^[6] the source of hyperbolē.^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

The TLL's examples are all late: Donatus (c. 310–380 AD) uses it in his commentary on Terence of sayings that go beyond belief,^[2][5] and Jerome of a “hyperbolic” clemency, in his translation of Origen.^[2]

Semantic evolution

It was mostly a term of rhetoric, used of words and writings that exaggerate: Augustine, and Sidonius Apollinaris of a style that swells into hyperbole.^[2][7] Sidonius also has hyperbolicis instrumentis of documents, where Cujas read a different word.^[1] The adverb hyperbolicē, “by way of hyperbole”, is in Jerome.^[1]

Medieval writers kept the rhetorical sense, of fulsome praise and overblown narratives,^[3][4] and also used it for anything too great, as Columbanus of an overwhelming fear.^[3] Old glossaries render it as “proud, overweening”.^[4]

English took it over as hyperbolic in the 17th century.^[6]

Timeline

• c. 310–380 AD – Donatus uses it in his commentary on Terence.^[2][5]
• c. 383–419/420 AD – Jerome uses it and the adverb hyperbolicē.^[2][1][5]
• c. 431–486 AD – Sidonius Apollinaris uses it of a swollen style.^[2][7][5]
• 590–615 – Columbanus writes of an excessive fear.^[3][5]
• 1640s – English borrows it as hyperbolic in rhetoric.^[6]

Meanings

Adjective

1. (rhetoric) Exaggerated, hyperbolical, beyond belief.^[2][1][3]
2. Excessive, too great.^[2][3][4]
3. (Medieval Latin) Of praise: fulsome.^[4]
4. (Medieval Latin) Proud, overweening.^[4]

Related words

• hyperbolē
• English hyperbolic

Usage notes

The adverb is hyperbolicē, “hyperbolically”.^[1][3]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
3. ^ a b c d e f g Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
4. ^ a b c d e f Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
5. ^ a b c d e f g Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
7. ^ a b Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn