supremus

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [sʊˈpreː.mʊs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [suˈprɛː.mus]^[1]

Forms

suprēmus (superlative, feminine suprēma, neuter suprēmum, comparative superior, adverb suprēmē); first/second declension^[1]

Etymology

It is the superlative of superus “upper”, formed with -ēmus, as in extrēmus and postrēmus.^[2][1] Wiktionary takes it from earlier *suprezmo-, from Proto-Italic *superisemos.^[1] The other superlative of superus is summus.^[1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The Twelve Tables set sunset as the last time, suprēma tempestās, for legal business, and Köbler dates them about 450 BC.^[2][4] Plautus uses it of supreme Jupiter.^[2]

Semantic evolution

It meant highest, topmost, as Virgil's tops of the mountains, and the farthest point, as Ennius' racehorse winning on the last lap.^[2][5] It meant last in time, the close of day, and the last of one's life: suprēmus diēs was the day of death, and the neuter plural suprēma were funeral rites.^[2] It was used of a decisive battle, of Jupiter as most exalted, and of the greatest degree, as suprēmum supplicium, the death penalty.^[2] Döderlein notes that summus is the plain local word for uppermost.^[6]

In medieval Latin it meant highest in authority, and as a noun God the Most High.^[7] English supreme is recorded in the 1520s.^[8]

Timeline

• c. 450 BC – The Twelve Tables use it of sunset.^[2][4]
• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of Jupiter.^[2][4]
• 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of the last lap of a race.^[2][4]
• 1520s – English supreme is recorded.^[8]

Meanings

Adjective

1. Highest, topmost; the top of.^[2][1]
2. Farthest, endmost.^[2]
3. Last, final, (as noun) sunset.^[2]
4. Last in one's life, suprēmus diēs the day of death, suprēma funeral rites.^[2][5]
5. Decisive, critical.^[2]
6. Most exalted, supreme.^[2][7]
7. Greatest, extreme, suprēmum supplicium the death penalty.^[2]

Word family

• supremitas

Related words

• superus
• summus
• English supreme

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
6. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
7. ^ a b 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
8. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com