Etymologically
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superbia

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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]
  • 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