Where does “superkey” come from?

superkey (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.

superkey (English): Any set of attributes of a relation variable (relvar) that serve to identify a single tuple or row, no other tuple having the same value for every attribute in the set

Definitions

  1. Any set of attributes of a relation variable (relvar) that serve to identify a single tuple or row, no other tuple having the same value for every attribute in the set

Ancestry of “superkey”, step by step

superkey 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 key

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishkeyAn object designed to open and close a lock; An...
2EnglishcayA small, low island largely made of sand or coral
3SpanishCayokey island
4Taínocayosmall island
Every word from Proto-Indo-European éǵh₂Every word from Proto-Germanic *ekEvery word from Proto-West Germanic ik