Supercilious

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ËŒsuː.pÉ™(ɹ)ˈsɪ.li.É™s/, /ËŒsjuː.pÉ™(ɹ)ˈsɪ.li.É™s/
• US IPA: /ËŒsuːpɚˈsɪliÉ™s/
• Rhymes: -ɪliÉ™s

Origin

From Latin superciliōsus ("haughty"), from supercilium ("eyebrow, arrogance").

Full definition of supercilious

Adjective

1. Arrogantly superior; showing contemptuous indifference; haughty.
• 2013 May 23, Sarah Lyall, "British Leader’s Liberal Turn Sets Off a Rebellion in His Party," New York Times (retrieved 29 May 2013)Buffeted by criticism of his policy on Europe, battered by rebellion in the ranks over his bill to legalize same-sex marriage and wounded by the perception that he is supercilious, contemptuous and out of touch with mainstream Conservatism, Mr. Cameron earlier this week took the highly unusual step of sending a mass e-mail (or, as he called it, “a personal note”) to his party’s grass-roots members.
• Fitzgerald Gatsby|INow he was a sturdy, straw haired man of thirty with a rather hard mouth and a supercilious manner.

Synonyms

Derived terms

• superciliously
• superciliousness