Etymologically
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superciliosus

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [sʊ.pɛr.kɪ.liˈoː.sʊs][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [su.per.t͡ʃi.liˈɔː.s̬us][1]

Forms

superciliōsus (feminine superciliōsa, neuter superciliōsum); first/second-declension adjective[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin supercilium (“eyebrow”) + -ōsus.[2][1] Etymonline explains the sense through raising the eyebrow to show haughtiness, supercilium itself having the sense of pride.[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Seneca, in his Letters, uses it of stern, frowning people.[4][5] Köbler dates Seneca 4 BC–65 AD.[6]

Semantic evolution

The OLD defines it as full of stern or disapproving looks, and Lewis & Short call it post-Augustan and very rare.[2][7] Arnobius uses it of things showing arrogance, and Martianus Capella has the comparative.[4][5] A gloss equates it with superbus “proud”.[4]

In medieval British Latin it meant proud or arrogant, and a glossary renders it “heavy-browed”.[8] English supercilious is recorded in the 1520s as “haughtily contemptuous”.[3]

Timeline

  • 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca uses it of stern people.[4][6]
  • 297–310 AD – Arnobius uses it of arrogant things.[4][6]
  • 1520s – English supercilious is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. Frowning, stern, censorious.[2][7]
  2. Haughty, disdainful, supercilious.[7][1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c d e Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  5. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  7. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  8. ^ 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