supercilious English · revision 1080

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˌsuː.pəˈsɪ.li.əs/ ''(UK)''; /ˌsu.pɚˈsɪ.li.əs/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la|superciliosus|t=haughty, arrogant]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) from ''supercilium'' “eyebrow; haughtiness, pride”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) from the raising of the eyebrow to express disdain,^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) from ''super-'' “above” and ''-cilium'' “eyelid”,^(AHD)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) related to ''cēlāre'' “to hide”.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Haughtily contemptuous in character or manner (before 1529, implied in ''superciliously'').^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In the late 16th century the word also meant dictatorial, overbearing or censorious (1598).^(OED 1989) In zoology it is used in names of animals with a conspicuous stripe over the eye.^(OED 1989) The usual sense today is coolly and patronizingly haughty.^(MW Collegiate)^(AHD)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1529 – haughtily contemptuous.^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1598 – overbearing, censorious.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1614 – Merriam-Webster's date.^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1782 – in zoology, with a stripe over the eye.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Showing haughty [[disdain]] or contempt; coolly and patronizingly superior.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[superciliously]]

+ * [[superciliousness]]

+ * [[unsupercilious]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[supercilium]]

+ * [[cilium]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Random House lists ''arrogant'' and ''scornful'' as synonyms and ''humble'' as an antonym.^(RHWU)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}