supreme English · revision 3957

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1523|origins=la suprēmus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /suːˈpriːm/, /sjuːˈpriːm/, US /səˈpriːm/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|frm|suprême]] and directly [[der|la|suprēmus|t=highest]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) the superlative of [[m|la|superus|t=situated above]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from [[m|la|super|t=above]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[ine-pro|*uper|t=over]].^(Etymonline) Hoad compares [[extreme]].^(Hoad 1986) It is related to [[superior]], [[supremacy]] and [[over]].^(Cresswell 2021)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Highest, loftiest, topmost: 1523 in the OED and Barnhart, in Skelton;^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) the 1520s in Etymonline^(Etymonline) and the late 15th century in the New Oxford and the SOED.^(NODE 1998)^(SOED 2002) The literal sense is now only poetic.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ “Highest in authority or rank” is from 1532–3.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) The general sense “of the highest quality or degree, greatest possible” is from the 1590s,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and ''the supreme sacrifice'', laying down one's life, belongs to this sense.^(OED 1989) Of God it is from 1594,^(OED 1989) and ''Supreme Being'' from the 1690s.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) ''Supreme Court'' is from 1689 in Etymonline;^(Etymonline) Barnhart has it of a colony's highest court in 1709 and of the United States court in 1787, in the Constitution.^(Barnhart 1988) Robespierre's Festival of the Supreme Being (8 June 1794) was meant to replace the Worship of Reason.^(Etymonline) Johnson noted that superior is often used of physical height, but supreme only of intellectual or political rank.^(Johnson 1755) ''Supremacy'' is from 1547.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1523 – highest, topmost.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1532–3 – highest in authority.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1547 – ''supremacy''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1590s – greatest possible.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1594 – of God.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1689 – ''Supreme Court''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1690s – ''Supreme Being''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Greatest in power, authority or rank; [[paramount]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Greatest in importance, degree or quality.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # Ultimate; final: ''the supreme sacrifice''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[supremely]]

+ * [[supremeness]]

+ * [[supremacy]]

+ * [[supremacist]]

+ * [[supreme court]]

+ * [[supreme sacrifice]]

+ * [[supreme being]]

+ * [[Supreme Soviet]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[super]]

+ * [[superior]]

+ * [[over]]

+ * [[extreme]]

+ * [[sum]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The cookery term suprême, a rich cream sauce or a dish of chicken breast served with it, is a later borrowing from French (1813).^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002)^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}