superbe French · revision 17694

+ The Robert dictionaries distinguish the noun ''la superbe'', pride, borrowed from [[la|superbia]], and the adjective ''superbe'', from Latin [[m|la|superbus]].^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ {{homograph|1|pride}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1120, Oxford Psalter|origins=la super}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /sy.pɛʁb/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''superbe''' ''f'' (uncountable)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ Pride is [[bor|la|superbia|t=pride, arrogance]], derived from [[m|la|superbus|t=proud]].^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Wiktionary) Cognate with [[pro|superbia]], [[es|soberbia]] and [[it|superbia]].^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is recorded about 1120, in the Oxford Psalter, as a noun meaning pride.^(Grand Robert 2005)^(GLLF 1989)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In religious language it was one of the deadly sins: the Académie in 1694 writes that ''la superbe précipita Lucifer… dans les enfers'', and Pascal uses it often.^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Petit Robert 2007) Bloch and Wartburg note that it has aged since the 17th century; it was taken up again in the 19th century in the literary sense of proud self-assurance, now mostly in ''il n'a rien perdu de sa superbe''.^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Larousse)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1120 – In the Oxford Psalter.^(GLLF 1989)^(Grand Robert 2005)

+ * 1694 – The Académie's example of Lucifer.^(Grand Robert 2005)

+ * 19th century – Taken up again in literary use.^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(literary)'' Proud self-assurance, shown in one's bearing: ''il n'a rien perdu de sa superbe''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Larousse)

+ # ''(archaic)'' [[m|en|pride|alt=Pride]], vanity, [[m|en|arrogance]].^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Grand Robert 2005)

+

+ {{homograph|2|superb}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=late 12th century, Aiol|origins=la super}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /sy.pɛʁb/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''superbe''' (plural superbes)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The adjective is [[bor|la|superbus|t=haughty, proud; in poetry, magnificent]].^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Wiktionary) The Latin word is formed from [[m|la|super|t=above]] and an element that may be related to the root “to grow”, also found in [[m|la|probus|t=upright]]: “growing above the others”.^(DHLF 1992) Littré compares the Sanskrit root “to be”.^(Littré 1873)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The ''chanson de geste'' ''Aiol'' (late 12th century) and ''Élie de Saint-Gilles'' (about 1200) use it of a proud person.^(GLLF 1989)^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The Latin sense “proud” is now archaic or literary, as in Valéry's nations ''amères, superbes, insupportables et vaines''.^(DHLF 1992)^(Petit Robert 2007) From the 16th century it was also said of an action (Amyot, 1559), a bearing (Bossuet, 1658) and an animal, with a mixture of pride and majesty: Racine's ''superbes coursiers'' (1677).^(DHLF 1992)^(TLFi) In the 16th century it took the favourable value of the Latin, “magnificent, sumptuous” (1573, of a house); from 1617 it meant “very beautiful”, and, from the 18th century this weakened sense became the ordinary one, said of an imposing woman (1762) or of a thing.^(DHLF 1992)^(Bloch & Wartburg 1989)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Late 12th century – “Proud”, in ''Aiol''.^(GLLF 1989)

+ * 1559 – Of an action, in Amyot.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1573 – “Magnificent”, of a house.^(DHLF 1992)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ * 1617 – “Very beautiful”.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 1677 – ''Superbes coursiers'', in Racine.^(TLFi)

+ * 1762 – Of a woman of fine presence.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Very beautiful, [[m|en|superb|alt=superb]], [[m|en|magnificent]]: ''un superbe appartement'', ''une ville superbe''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Larousse)

+ # Of the weather, particularly fine: ''une superbe matinée de printemps''.^(Larousse)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # Excellent in a particular quality: ''elle a été superbe de sang-froid''.^(Larousse)

+ # ''(archaic or literary)'' [[m|en|haughty|alt=Haughty]], proud: ''un air superbe''.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Le Robert)

+ # ''(literary)'' Full of grandeur and luxury.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(Le Robert)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[la|superbus]]

+ * [[en|superb]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}