superne

Forms

superne (not comparable)^[1] The final -e is short where the metre shows it, in Lucretius and Horace.^[2]

Etymology

It is probably from Latin super (“above”) + -ne, with the suffix of pōne (“behind”);^[2][3] the adjective supernus was made from it later.^[2][3] De Vaan traces super to Proto-Italic *super(i) (“above”) and Proto-Indo-European *(h₁)uper(i) (“over, above”).^[3] Cognate with Umbrian superne (“over”), Ancient Greek ὑπέρ (hupér, “over, above”) and Gothic 𐌿𐍆𐌰𐍂 (ufar, “over”).^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan dates it from Lucretius,^[3] who has the sun running beneath the earth and above it.^[2]

Semantic evolution

It means at or to a higher level, above, and of the point from which an action comes, from above, also with dē, as in Lucretius' dew poured down from above.^[2] It also means in the upper part, as in Horace's poet turning into a white bird “above”.^[2] In the sense on top or on the upper side it occurs in Horace, and Apuleius uses it of a cloak thrown over one's other clothes.^[2]

Timeline

• 96–55 BC – Lucretius of the sun's course above the earth and of dew from above.^[2][3][4]
• 65–8 BC – Horace of the upper part of the body.^[2][4]
• c. 125–175 AD – Apuleius of a cloak worn over other clothes.^[2][4]

Meanings

Adverb

1. At or to a higher level, above; from above.^[2][1]
2. In the upper part.^[2]
3. On top, on the upper side; over one's other clothes.^[2]

Related words

• super
• supernus
• pōne

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 m Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d e f 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 Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de