superstar English · revision 39390

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1910, G. P. Serviss}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * UK: /ˈsuː.pəˌstɑː/^(Wiktionary)

+ * US: /ˈsu.pɚˌstɑɹ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed [[af|en|super-|star]].^(OED 2026)^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ In astronomy, a very large or bright celestial body, especially a very large star, 1910.^(OED 2026)^(HTOED) Etymonline notes that astronomers used it at this time, but rarely.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The sense "an exceptionally famous performer" is recorded in 1914 in a Winnipeg newspaper,^(OED 2026) the same year as Merriam-Webster's first date.^(MWU 2024) Etymonline finds it by 1919 for the vaudeville performer Gertrude Hoffmann and by 1920 in sport, of the baseball player Babe Ruth.^(Etymonline) Dictionary.com dates it to 1920–25 and calls it an Americanism.^(Dictionary.com 2016) It was used attributively, as in ''superstar status'', from 1915,^(OED 2026)^(HTOED) and figuratively for anyone or anything outstanding in a field.^(OED 2026)^(MWU 2024) ''Superstardom'' is from the late 20th century.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1910 – a very large or bright star (astronomy).^(OED 2026)

+ * 1914 – an outstanding performer.^(OED 2026)^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1915 – attributive use.^(OED 2026)

+ * 1919 – of the vaudeville star Gertrude Hoffmann.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1920 – in sport, of Babe Ruth.^(Etymonline)

+ * late 20th century – ''superstardom''.^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An extremely famous and popular [[performer]] or [[athlete]].^(AHD 2024)^(Collins 2023)^(MWU 2024)

+ # A person or thing that is outstandingly prominent or successful: ''a superstar of modern architecture''.^(AHD 2024)^(MWU 2024)

+ # ''(astronomy)'' A very large or bright [[celestial]] body.^(OED 2026)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[superstardom]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[megastar]]

+ * [[star]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}