Chapter 1
From ancient Rome to high-flying Latin
Chapter 2
The comic book explosion and the heroic noun
Chapter 3
Extreme science and the power of the prefix
Chapter 4
The slang revolution and modern hyperbole
YOUR GOAL
Master of How the word super conquered the world
Ch 1 · From ancient Rome to high-flying Latin
sonia The word entered English in the 15th century, transitioning from French Anglo-Norman roots.
Fun Fact
Ancient roots: The Latin word "super" is a linguistic cousin of the English word "over," both sharing an ancient Proto-Indo-European ancestor.
Glossary
super (adjective)
Very good or pleasant; excellent. Romans used this Latin word as a preposition meaning above or over.
Very good or pleasant; excellent. Romans used this Latin word as a preposition meaning above or over.
Quiz
Which linguistic ancestor is the shared root of both "super" and the English word "over"?
Quiz
Which of these common "super-" words was coined first in English during the 15th century?
Quiz
Which ancient Greek word is a cognate (linguistic relative) of the Latin word "super"?