superb English · revision 10713

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1549|origins=la superbus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /suːˈpɜːb/, /sjuːˈpɜːb/, US /səˈpɝːb/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|superbus|t=grand, proud, splendid, haughty]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) perhaps partly through French superbe,^(Hoad 1986)^(Collins 2023) from super, above (see [[super-]]),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) with a second element perhaps from the root meaning “to be” (see [[be]]),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) so literally “being above”.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Of buildings and monuments, imposing or magnificent: 1549.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Proud or haughty, following the Latin, is an obsolete sense of 1654.^(OED 1989)^(Cresswell 2021) Grandly equipped or decorated is from before 1700,^(OED 1989) and in the names of brightly coloured birds and plants from 1760.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The sense of very fine, excellent, is found before 1729, in Congreve,^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) and in general use from the early 18th century.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1549 – magnificent (of buildings).^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1654 – proud (obsolete).^(OED 1989)

+ * before 1729 – excellent.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1760 – in names of species.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of very high quality; [[excellent]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Grand or imposing; [[majestic]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Rich and luxurious.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[superbly]]

+ * [[superbness]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[super-]]

+ * [[superior]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}