Etymologically
Log in

superbio

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 20 October 2026 at 14:09. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • Classical: [sʊˈpɛr.bi.oː][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [suˈpɛr.bi.o][1]

Forms

superbiō (present infinitive superbīre); fourth conjugation, no passive, no perfect or supine stems[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin superbus (“proud, haughty”) + -iō.[2][1] De Vaan treats superbus together with probus (“excellent, good”), which goes back to Proto-Italic *pro-f(w)-o- (“favourable”); since superbus is not found in Sabellic and works as an antonym of probus, he suggests it was formed within Latin, and notes that de Lamberterie compares Ancient Greek ὑπέρφευ (hupérpheu, “excessively”).[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

A reading superbis in Cicero's Academica is doubtful, and editors print superbe there,[4] so the first secure instance is in Propertius, who hopes that Umbria will be proud of his books: ut nostris tumefacta superbiat Umbria libris.[2][4]

Semantic evolution

Lewis and Short call it mostly poetic and post-Augustan.[4] Usually with an ablative, it means to take pride in something, plume oneself on it, as Ovid's bird proud of its beauty, Phaedrus, Pliny the Elder and Tacitus have it, and things too may superbire.[2] With an infinitive Statius uses it for disdaining to do something.[2] Propertius also has it of things that display a gorgeous appearance.[2] Ecclesiastical Latin keeps the senses be proud, haughty, insolent.[5]

Timeline

  • 57/46–12 BC – Propertius uses it of Umbria proud of his books and of a splendid display.[2][4]
  • 43 BC–18 AD – Ovid uses it of a bird proud of its beauty.[2]
  • 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder uses it.[2]
  • c. 45–96 AD – Statius has it with an infinitive, “to disdain to”.[2]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To be proud or haughty; to take pride in, plume oneself on (with an ablative or quod).[2][4][5]
  2. To disdain to, be too proud to (with an infinitive).[2]
  3. To display a gorgeous appearance.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  4. ^ a b c d e Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson