Where does “superlative” come from?
Superlative comes from Middle English superlatyf, from Old French superlatif, from Late Latin superlativus, derived from Latin superlatus, the past participle of superfero meaning to carry beyond, from super meaning over and the root bʰer- meaning to carry.
superlative (English): The highest extent or degree of something; The...
Definitions
- The highest extent or degree of something; The...
Ancestry of “superlative”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | superlatyf | — |
| 2 | Old French | superlatif | superlative |
| 3 | Latin | superlātīvus | superlative of an adjective |
| 4 | Latin | superlātus | — |
| 5 | Latin | super- | super-; over, above |
| 6 | Latin | super | "accusative" above, on the top of, upon;... |
| 7 | Latin | eks-uper | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | upéri | alternative reconstruction of *upér |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | upér | above; over |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | upó | under, below |
| 11 | Proto-Indo-European | h₃ewp- | — |