Super- | Meaning Of Prefix Super- By Etymonline

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Origin and history of super-

super-

word-forming element of Latin origin meaning "above, over" in place or position; also in manner, degree, or measure, "over, beyond;" from Latin super (adverb and preposition) "above, over, on the top (of), beyond, besides, in addition to." This is from *(s)uper-, variant form of PIE root *uper "over."

In English words from Old French, it appears as sur-. Most of the Latin compounds in it are post-classical; it has been a living element in English since 15c. In Medieval Latin and Romanic languages it can be confused with related supra-, and some English words exist in both forms.

In 17c., when many English compounds in super- were coined in religious and spiritual writing, the notion in it was "beyond; not partaking of." Hence superordinary "excellent, better than what is common or usual" (1620s); supersensual "above or beyond the senses, imperceptible to human sense" (1680s); super-rational "that is above or beyond the scope of reason" (1680s).

But it also was used in the sciences in the sense of "in or to the highest or a very high degree," and has come to be felt popularly as "in an exaggerated degree, very much," as in supersensitive "extremely sensitive" (1839); supercool "very fashionable" (1970), which runs contrary to the old sense. Hence supersexual, attested by 1895 as "transcending sexuality; 'platonic' " and by 1968 as "sexual in an extreme degree." Also compare superhuman, which in the 1630s meant "divine, above or beyond what is human," but, by c. 1800, also, and typically since, meant "above the powers or nature of man."

Entries linking to super-

superhuman(adj.)

also super-human, "above or beyond what is human," 1630s, from Medieval Latin superhumanus; see super- + human (adj.). In early use often "divine;" by c. 1800 also, and typically since, "above the powers or nature of man." Related: Superhumanly; superhumanness.

soprano(n.)

"the highest (female) singing voice," ranging easily through the two octaves above middle C, 1730, from Italian soprano "the treble in music," literally "high," from sopra "above," from Latin supra, fem. ablative singular of super "above, over" (see super-). Compare sovereign (adj.).

The meaning "a singer having a soprano voice" is from 1738. As an adjective also from 1730. Related: Sopranist. The Italian plural is soprani. Soprano saxophone is attested from 1859.

• subterfuge
• super
• superabundance
• superannuated
• supercharge
• supercilious
• superclass
• supercluster
• supercomputer
• superconductor
• supercontinent
• super-cooling
• super-ego
• supererogation
• superfamily
• superficial
• superfine
• superfluous
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subterfuge"that to which one resorts for an escape or concealment; an artifice to escape," 1570s, from French subterfuge (14c.) or directly from Medieval Latin subterfugium "an evasion," from Latin subterfugere "to evade, escape, flee by stealth," from subter "beneath, below;" in compoundssuper"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 by 1895 in slang, revived by 1967. Rhyming reduplicatsuperabundanceearly 15c., superaboundaunce, "a great quantity, an excess," from Old French superabondance and directly from Late Latin superabundantia, from present-participle stem of Latin superabundare, from super (see super-) + abundare (see abound). Related: Superabound "abound above or beJazz AgeWe 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...athelingproperty," Old High German adal "noble family"), which is perhaps from PIE *at-al- "race, family," from *at(i)- "over, beyond, super...absorb"to drink in, suck up, take in by absorption," early 15c., from Old French absorbir, assorbir (13c., Modern French absorber), from Latin absorbere "to swallow up, devour," from ab "off, away from" (see ab-) + sorbere "suck in," from PIE root *srebh- "to suck, absorb" (source alsosophomore1680s, "student in the second year of university study," literally "arguer," altered from sophumer (1650s), from sophume, an archaic variant form of sophism, ultimately from Greek sophistēs "a master of one's craft; a wise or prudent man, one clever in matters of daily life." Therenderlate 14c., rendren, rendre, "repeat, say again, recite; translate," from Old French rendre "give back, present, yield" (10c.) and Medieval Latin rendere, from Vulgar Latin *rendere, a variant of Latin reddere "give back, return, restore," from red- "back" (see re-) + combining fo

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‘cite’Page URL:https://www.etymonline.com/word/super-CopyHTML Link:<a href="https://www.etymonline.com/word/super-">Etymology of super- by etymonline</a>CopyAPA Style:Harper, D. (n.d.). Etymology of super-. Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved January 21, 2026, from https://www.etymonline.com/word/super-CopyChicago Style:Harper Douglas, "Etymology of super-," Online Etymology Dictionary, accessed January 21, 2026, https://www.etymonline.com/word/super-.CopyMLA Style:Harper, Douglas. "Etymology of super-." Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/super-. Accessed 21 January, 2026.CopyIEEE Style:D. Harper. "Etymology of super-." Online Etymology Dictionary. https://www.etymonline.com/word/super- (accessed January 21, 2026).CopyRemove AdsAdvertisement

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TrendingDictionary entries near super-

• sun-wake
• sunwise
• sun-worship
• sup-
• sup
• super-
• super
• superable
• superabundance
• superannuate
• superannuated

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