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Origin and history of super

super(adj.)

"first-rate, excellent," 1837, from the prefix, especially in superfine, denoting the highest grade of any goods (the prefix is from Latin super "above, over, beyond;" see super-).

Extended use as a general term of approval is attested by 1895 in slang, revived or recoined in slang by 1967. Rhyming reduplication form super-duper is attested by 1940. Super Glue from 1975; as a verb by 1983. US football Super Bowl is attested from 1966.

... the superb owl who sat, folded in his feather cloak to the tips of his powerful claws, motionless, wearily disdainful but as wide-awake in his single self as all the fifteen hundred contemptible chits around him .... [The Spectator, Feb. 26, 1876]

super(n.)

colloquial shortening of various words in super-; by 1838 as a shortening of supernumerary (actor); by 1857 as superintendent (especially at first in reference to overseers of sheep ranches in Australia). By 1965 as a popular name for high-octane gasoline.

also from 1838

Entries linking to super

superfine(adj.)

also super-fine, 1570s, "very fine, most fine; excessively nice," from super- + fine (adj.). In reference to manufactured goods from 1680s.

superintendent(n.)

1550s, originally an ecclesiastical word meaning "bishop" or "minister who supervises churches within a district" (ultimately a loan-translation of Greek episkopos "overseer"), from Medieval Latin superintendentem (nominative superintendens), present participle of Late Latin superintendere "oversee," from Latin super "above" (see super-) + intendere "turn one's attention to, direct" (see intend).

Famously used by 16c. radical Protestants in place of bishop, which to them was tainted by Papacy.

[Martinists] studie to pull downe Bishopps, and set vp Superintendents, which is nothing else, but to raze out good Greeke, & enterline bad Latine. [Lyly, "Pappe with an Hatchet," 1589]

The general sense of "a person who has charge of some business" is recorded by 1580s. The meaning "janitor, custodian" is from c. 1935.

As an adjective meaning "superintending," from 1590s.

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supernumerary
"exceeding a stated or prescribed number," c. 1600, from Late Latin supernumarius "excess, counted in over" (of soldiers added to a full legion), from Latin super numerum "beyond the number," from super "beyond, over" (see super-) + numerum, accusative of numerus "number" (see nu
ace
c. 1300, "one at dice," from Old French as "one at dice" (12c.), from Latin as "a unit, one, a whole, unity;" also the name of a small Roman coin (originally a rectangular bronze plaque weighing one pound, it eventually was reduced by depreciation to half an ounce; in imperial ti
top-notch
also top notch, "best quality, most stylish," 1840, something of a vogue phrase about 1841, from top (adj.) + notch (n.). Figurative of the "highest point" of something, but the exact mechanical image is uncertain and never seems to be mentioned. At the time it was the name of a
Jazz Age
We are living in a jazz age of super-accentuated rhythm in all things; in a rhythm that (to "jazz" a word) is super-normal..., a rhythm which is the back-flare from the rhythm of a super war....
supererogation
"a payment in addition," noun of action from past participle stem of supererogare "pay or do additionally," from Latin super..."above, over" (see super-) + erogare "pay out," from ex "out" (see ex-) + rogare "ask, request," apparently a figurative...
insuperable
(see in- (1)) + superabilis "that may be overcome," from superare "to overcome," from superus "one that is above," from super...
atheling
property," Old High German adal "noble family"), which is perhaps from PIE *at-al- "race, family," from *at(i)- "over, beyond, super...
post
"a timber of considerable size set upright," from Old English post "pillar, doorpost," and from Old French post "post, upright beam," both from Latin postis "door, post, doorpost," in Medieval Latin "a beam, rod, pole," which is perhaps from Vulgar Latin *por- "forth," a variant
spot
c. 1200, "moral stain;" by mid-14c. as "speck, stain left by something on a surface;" probably at least in part from a variant of Old English splott "a spot, blot, patch (of land)," and partly from or related to Middle Dutch spotte "spot, speck." Other cognates are East Frisian s
stop
Middle English stoppen, "obstruct (a passage) with a physical barrier; close up by filling, stuffing, or plugging," from Old English -stoppian (in forstoppian "to stop up, stifle"), a general West Germanic word, cognate with Old Saxon stuppon, West Frisian stopje, Middle Low Germ

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