Where does “superb” come from?
Superb comes from Latin superbus, derived from Latin super meaning "over," which traces back through Proto-Indo-European uperi to the root upo.
superb (English): First-rate; of the highest quality; exceptionally...
Definitions
- First-rate; of the highest quality; exceptionally...
Ancestry of “superb”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Latin | Superbus | the cognomen of the younger Tarquin, the last king of Rome |
| 2 | Latin | superbus | proud, rude, supercilious, arrogant, haughty,... |
| 3 | Latin | super | "accusative" above, on the top of, upon;... |
| 4 | Latin | eks-uper | — |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | upéri | alternative reconstruction of *upér |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | upér | above; over |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | upó | under, below |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | h₃ewp- | — |