superior English · revision 5043

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1390|origins=la superior}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /suːˈpɪə.ri.ə/, /sjuːˈpɪə.ri.ə/, US /səˈpɪr.i.ɚ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|superiour]], [[bor|fro|superior|alt=superior, superiour]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from [[la|superior|t=higher]], the comparative of superus “situated above, upper”, from super “above”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from [[ine-pro|*upér|alt=*uper|t=over]].^(Etymonline) It is related to [[super-]], [[supreme]] and [[over]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Higher in position, situated above: 1390 in the OED, before 1393 in Gower's Confessio Amantis in Barnhart.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In old names of lands it could mean “more northern”, from the late 14th century.^(Etymonline) Higher in rank or dignity is from the late 15th century (1485 in the OED),^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and of a higher nature or kind from the 1530s.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) Greater in quality or amount is from 1579.^(OED 1989) The noun, a person of higher rank, is from the early 15th century,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Cresswell 2021) and Father or Mother Superior from 1706.^(OED 1989) The French sense “upper” survives in the name of Lake Superior, a translation of French Lac Supérieur.^(Etymonline) ''Superiority'' is from about 1475.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1390 – higher in position.^(OED 1989)

+ * early 15th century – noun, a superior.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1485 – higher in rank.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1533 – of a higher nature.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1579 – greater in quality.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1706 – Mother Superior.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Better than average or better than others.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Higher in [[rank]] or authority.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Greater in number or amount: ''superior forces''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Showing that one thinks oneself better than others; [[haughty]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(printing)'' Written above the line, as a figure.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person of higher rank, especially at work.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The head of a religious community.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[superiority]]

+ * [[superiorly]]

+ * [[unsuperior]]

+ * [[superior court]]

+ * [[superior general]]

+ * [[superior planet]]

+ * [[superior vena cava]]

+ * [[mother superior]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[super-]]

+ * [[supreme]]

+ * [[over]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}