Where does “Superman” come from?
Superman derives from English man and Latin super-, combined to denote a man of superior qualities or abilities.
Superman (English): Alternative letter-case form of superman: a...
Definitions
- Alternative letter-case form of superman: a...
Ancestry of “Superman”, step by step
Superman traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English MAN
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | MAN | Initialism of Metropolitan Area Network |
| 2 | English | manual | A handbook; A booklet that instructs on the usage... |
| 3 | Middle English | manuel | — |
| 4 | Anglo-Norman | manuel | manual; done with the hands; handle; manual;... |
| 5 | Old French | manual | — |
| 6 | Latin | manuālis | hand |
| 7 | Latin | manus | hand; bravery, valor; violence, fighting |
| 8 | Proto-Italic | manus | hand |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | man- | human being; man; hand |
via German Übermensch
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | German | Übermensch | A "superior human"; Overman |
| 2 | German | mensch | one, they |
| 3 | Middle High German | mensche | — |
| 4 | Old High German | mennisko | a man; a human; a human being |
| 5 | Proto-West Germanic | *mannisk | — |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | manniskaz | human |
| 7 | Proto-Germanic | *mann- | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | men- | to think, mind; spiritual activity; to stay,... |