Where does “supermodel” come from?
supermodel (English) comes from English model, from Middle French modelle, from Old Italian modello, from Vulgar Latin modellus, from Latin modulus, from Latin -ulus, from Proto-Italic -olos, from Proto-Italic -elos — Forms agent nouns from verbal roots.
supermodel (English): A highly paid, famous fashion model
Definitions
- A highly paid, famous fashion model
Ancestry of “supermodel”, step by step
supermodel traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English model
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | model | A person who serves as a subject for artwork or... |
| 2 | Middle French | modelle | template; model; model; replica; reconstruction |
| 3 | Old Italian | modello | — |
| 4 | Vulgar Latin | modellus | — |
| 5 | Latin | modulus | a small measure or interval; a module; a water... |
| 6 | Latin | -ulus | Used to form a diminutive of a noun, indicating... |
| 7 | Proto-Italic | -olos | — |
| 8 | Proto-Italic | -elos | Forms desubstantival and deadjectival diminutive nouns |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | -e-lós | — |
| 10 | Proto-Indo-European | -lós | Forms agent nouns from verbal roots |
via English super
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | super | Of excellent quality, superfine; better than... |
| 2 | English | super-ego | Alternative spelling of superego |
| 3 | German | Über-Ich | superego |
| 4 | German | Ich | ego, the Ich; self, me, him, etc |
| 5 | Middle High German | ich | I |
| 6 | Old High German | ih | I |
| 7 | Proto-West Germanic | ik | I |
| 8 | Proto-Germanic | *ek | — |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | éǵh₂ | I |