Drag to pan · scroll to zoom
Drag to rotate
Tracing “”…
Where does the word "superb" come from? It comes from Latin superbus, passing through French before entering English (1540s).
Read the full story
Where does the word "superb" come from? It comes from Latin superbus, passing through French before entering English (1540s).
Superb’s story begins in Latin: superbus meant “proud, haughty.” From 'super', above. By 1500s, the word had taken hold in French as superbe. Latin 'superbus' meant proud or haughty as well as splendid; since 1760 'superb' has named brightly colored species. It reached English by 1540s as superb. The sense 'excellent' dates from the 1700s. Today, superb means excellent.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient superbus "proud, haughty", from 'super', above.
- Stage 2 · French · 1500s superbe "superb", Latin 'superbus' meant proud or haughty as well as splendid; since 1760 'superb' has named brightly colored species.
- Stage 3 · English · 1540s superb "majestic", the sense 'excellent' dates from the 1700s.