superius Latin · revision 36714

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|origins=la superior}}

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+ ==Forms==

+ '''superius''' (adverb; comparative in form)^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010)

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+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[der|la|superior|t=higher]], whose neuter is used as an adverb.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)^(Conte 2010) Georges and Conte also treat it as the comparative of [[m|la|suprā|t=above]].^(Georges 1913)^(Conte 2010) De Vaan derives the comparative from [[itc-pro|*super-jōs-|t=higher]], formed from [[m|ine-pro|*(h1)uper(i)|t=over, above]], and compares [[sa|उपरि|tr=upári|t=above, over]] and [[grc|ὑπέρ|tr=hupér|t=over, above]].^(de Vaan 2008)

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+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Among the earliest authors the OLD cites for the adverb are the ''Bellum Hispaniense'' and Phaedrus, who use it for “above”, earlier in a text: Phaedrus says ''dīxī superius'', “I said above”.^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010)

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+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The adverb means “higher up, upwards”, as in Seneca's ''Natural Questions'', where some particles are carried higher than others,^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010) and “earlier, above” in a text or narrative, a use found in the ''Bellum Hispaniense'', Phaedrus, Scribonius Largus, Tacitus and the jurist Gaius.^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010)

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+ In Medieval Latin the sense “above in a text, previously” was common.^(Niermeyer 1976) Writers in Britain also used it for “upwards”, for “further upstream” or “further inland”: Bede writes of planets that wander now lower, now higher, and another text of an army that went further into France.^(DMLBS)

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+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 15 BC–c. 50 AD – Phaedrus writes ''dīxī superius'', “I said above”.^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca uses it for “higher up”.^(Conte 2010)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 47 AD – Scribonius Largus uses it of things mentioned above.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 98–115 AD – Tacitus uses it in the ''Histories''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1st third of the 8th century AD – Bede uses it of planets moving higher.^(DMLBS)^(Köbler 2010)

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+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # To a higher level, [[m|en|upwards]], higher up.^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010)^(DMLBS)

+ # Earlier in a narrative or text, [[m|en|above]], previously.^(OLD 2012)^(Niermeyer 1976)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' Further upstream, further inland.^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[superior]]

+ * [[superus]]

+ * [[suprā]]

+ * [[īnferius#1]]

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+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Superius'' is also the neuter of the adjective ''superior''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Conte 2010)

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+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}