Etymology
Advertisement

supreme (adj.)

1520s, from French suprême (15c.) and directly from Latin supremus "highest," superlative of superus "situated above," from super "above" (from PIE root *uper "over"). Supreme Being "God" first attested 1690s; Supreme Court is from 1689.

Entries linking to supreme

*uper 
Proto-Indo-European root meaning "over."

It forms all or part of: hyper-; insuperable; over; over-; sirloin; somersault; soprano; soubrette; sovereign; sum; summit; super-; superable; superb; superior; supernal; supra-; supreme; sur-.

It is the hypothetical source of/evidence for its existence is provided by: Sanskrit upari, Avestan upairi "over, above, beyond;" Greek hyper, Latin super "above, over;" Old English ofer "over," German über, Gothic ufaro "over, across;" Gaulish ver-, Old Irish for.
supremacy (n.)
1540s, from supreme + -acy, or from Latin supremitatem (nominative supremitas). Supremity in same sense is from 1530s.
supremist (n.)
1640s, "one who holds supreme authority," from supreme + -ist.

updated on December 07, 2020

Advertisement
Advertisement
Definitions of supreme from WordNet

supreme (adj.)
highest in excellence or achievement;
a supreme endeavor
supreme among musicians
supreme courage
supreme (adj.)
final or last in your life or progress;
the supreme sacrifice
the supreme judgment
supreme (adj.)
greatest in status or authority or power;
a supreme tribunal
Synonyms: sovereign
supreme (adj.)
greatest or maximal in degree; extreme;
the supreme confidence of youth
supreme folly
Synonyms: sublime
From wordnet.princeton.edu, not affiliated with etymonline.

Dictionary entries near supreme

supralapsarian

supra-national

supra-nationalism

supremacist

supremacy

supreme

supremist

sur-

sura

surcease

surcharge

© 2001-2022 Douglas Harper