superplus

Forms

superplus n (indeclinable)^[1] Medieval spellings include sureplūs, supplūs and surplūs.^[2][3] British sources also have superplusium and superplusum.^[3]

Etymology

It is formed from Latin super (“over, above”) + plūs (“more”) in Medieval Latin.^[3][2][4] The DMLBS compares the vernacular ⟨surplus⟩ of Anglo-Norman.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

In the Domesday Book super plus, written as two words, refers to what Picot seized beyond the dues paid to the sheriff.^[3]

Semantic evolution

The word named a surplus, an excess or a balance remaining from a sum,^[1][3] and also an increment or an investment.^[1] Du Cange defines it as what is left over a certain sum, which the French call le surplus.^[5] The phrase de superplus meant “in addition”.^[3]

Through Old French sorplus it is the source of English surplus.^[4]

Timeline

• 1085–1086 – The Domesday Book has super plus.^[3][6]
• 1105 – Köbler dates its first use, citing Niermeyer.^[2]
• 1130 – A pipe roll speaks of the surplus of animals on certain manors.^[3]
• 1205 – A close roll has the spelling supplus.^[3]
• late 14th century – English borrows it from Old French as surplus.^[4]

Meanings

Noun

1. (Medieval Latin) Surplus, excess, balance remaining.^[1][3][5]
2. (Medieval Latin) An increment, an investment.^[1]
3. (Medieval Latin) de superplus: in addition.^[3]

References

1. ^ a b c d e Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
2. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l 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
4. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
5. ^ a b du Cange, Charles du Fresne, et al. (1883–1887), Glossarium mediae et infimae latinitatis, augmented ed. by Léopold Favre, Niort: L. Favre
6. ^ The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin