supercilious

Meanings

• adjective

  Showing or suggesting haughty or contemptuous superiority.

  - "His supercilious attitude towards the less fortunate was offensive."
  - "She gave a supercilious smile, looking down on her sister."

---

Pronunciation

1. /ˌs(j)u.pɚˈsɪ.li.əs/
   
   
   
   Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1772915"

---

Rhymes

Words rhyming with supercilious
prestigious , delicious , obnoxious

---

Variants

List of all variants of supercilious that leads to same result
supercilious , superciliously , superciliousness , superciliousnesses

---

Etymology

origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

From the Latin supercilium, meaning 'eyebrow'. The word originally referred to raising the eyebrows in a haughty or disdainful manner.

---

Trivia

Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word

1. The word 'supercilious' first appeared in English in the late 16th century.

2. The term 'supercilious' is derived from the Latin word 'supercilium', which means 'eyebrow'.

3. The word 'supercilious' is often used interchangeably with the word 'arrogant', but the two words have slightly different meanings - 'supercilious' specifically refers to a haughty or contemptuous attitude expressed through body language or facial expressions.

---

Related Concepts

informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to

1. arrogance: A feeling of self-importance or superiority, often used interchangeably with 'supercilious' but refers more to an attitude or emotion rather than a specific behavior or appearance.

2. condescension: The act of speaking or behaving in a way that belittles or shows contempt for someone perceived as inferior, often used in conjunction with 'supercilious' to describe a particularly haughty or dismissive attitude.

---

Quotes

Quotes by authors and personalities

1. While Americans did congregate together at baseball games, … amusement parks, dance halls and arcades, tensions still roiled. The middle class may not have been as "supercilious" as the elites it replaced, but middle-class reformers were every bit as strident as those elites in condemning … working-class entertainments, and for the same reason: These entertainments constituted a challenge to the class's social control.

   - Neal Gabler,{it}Life: The Movie{/it},1998

2. Cross' popular academic sleuth Kate Fansler returns, this time as a guest professor at the down-at-the-heels Schuyler Law School, where she has been asked to teach a course on literature and the law. Ardent feminist Kate soon finds that not only is Schuyler a bastion of intolerant, "supercilious" white males, but worse, any attempt by women or minorities to be heard is quickly quashed by the old-boy network.

   - Emily Melton,{it}Booklist{/it},15 Dec. 1994

3. Jorgeson had a sharp tongue and was so "supercilious" in his remarks that I didn't know quite how seriously I should take this talk, but I enjoyed his humor and I did believe he had the sensibilities of an artist.

   - Thom Jones,{it}New Yorker{/it},2 Dec. 1991

---

Culture

Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

In literature, the 'supercilious' is often used to describe characters who are arrogant or condescending towards others. In art, the term can be used to describe portraits of haughty or proud individuals.

How to Memorize "supercilious"

1. visualize
   

   - Imagine someone raising their eyebrows in a haughty or disdainful manner. Visualize a character in a novel or movie who is described as 'supercilious' and try to recall their mannerisms and attitude.

2. associate
   

   - Associate the word 'supercilious' with the image of a haughty aristocrat or a snooty celebrity.

3. mnemonics
   

   - Create a mnemonic using the first letter of each word in 'Supercilious' - 'Silly Upstarts Pretend Elevated Importance, Superiority, Underestimate Others, Insulting Smirking'

---

Memorize "supercilious" using Dictozo

The best and recommended way to memorize supercilious is, by using Dictozo. Just save the word in Dictozo extension and let the app handle the rest. It enhances the memorization process in two ways:

1. Highlighting:

   Whenever users encounters the saved word on a webpage, Dictozo highlights it, drawing the user's attention and reinforcing memorization.
2. Periodic Reminders:

   Dictozo will send you periodic reminders to remind you the saved word, it will ask you quiz. These reminders could be in the form of notifications or emails, prompting users to recall and reinforce their knowledge.