Where does “superdeformed” come from?

superdeformed (English) comes from English super, from English super-ego, from German Über-Ich, from German Ich, from Middle High German ich, from Old High German ih, from Proto-West Germanic ik, from Proto-Germanic *ek — I.

superdeformed (English): Very far from spherical, forming an ellipsoid...

Definitions

  1. Very far from spherical, forming an ellipsoid...

Ancestry of “superdeformed”, step by step

superdeformed traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English super

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishsuperOf excellent quality, superfine; better than...
2Englishsuper-egoAlternative spelling of superego
3GermanÜber-Ichsuperego
4GermanIchego, the Ich; self, me, him, etc
5Middle High GermanichI
6Old High GermanihI
7Proto-West GermanicikI
8Proto-Germanic*ek
9Proto-Indo-Europeanéǵh₂I

via English deformed

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishdeformedUnusual of shape; misshapen; simple past tense...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European éǵh₂Every word from Proto-Germanic *ekEvery word from Proto-West Germanic ik