superbia

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [sʊˈpɛr.bi.a]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [suˈpɛr.bi.a]^[1]

Forms

superbia f (genitive superbiae); first declension^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin superbus (“proud, haughty”) + -ia.^[2][1] Köbler connects ⟨superbus⟩ with super (“above”).^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is Plautus, of pride.^[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[3]

Semantic evolution

It meant lofty self-esteem, pride, haughtiness, arrogance, mostly in a bad sense, and in Vitruvius splendour of appearance.^[2][4]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it means pride, insolence, and British Medieval Latin counts it as the first of the mortal sins.^[5][6] It survives as Italian superbia, Spanish soberbia and Portuguese soberba.^[1]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.^[2][3]
• c. 84–c. 25 BC – Vitruvius uses it of splendour.^[2][3]

Meanings

Noun

1. Pride, arrogance, haughtiness.^[2][4]
2. Splendour, magnificence of appearance.^[2]

Related words

• superbē
• superbiō
• superbiter
• superbus
• super

Usage notes

Lewis & Short give arrogantia, insolentia and fastīdium as synonyms.^[4]

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
4. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
6. ^ 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