8.4: §60. Interesting Words
Two Latin synonyms were norma (“pattern,” “rule”; > E norm ) and regula (“wooden ruler,” “rule”; > E rule ). “Departing from the rule” is abnormal ( ab-norm-alis ); “not according to rule” is irregular ( ir-regul-aris ). Both words are entirely regular Latin adjectives. Why is it quite normal for irregular to begin in ir- and end in -ar ?
If you stand “outside your rank,” you can be described as extraordinary ( extra-ordin-arius ). However, if you are merely “over the number,” then you are a supernumerary ( super-numer-arius ). Other derivatives of super- are superficial ( superficialis ) and supercilious ( superciliosus ). The first comes from the Latin noun superficies ( super + facies , “over the face,” “surface” [1] ); the second is from supercilium , “eyebrow” ( super + cilium , “over the eyelid”). A supercilious sneer should be full of eyebrows!
Remember that the Latin source for English pre – is always prae- . In §35, we met the word preliminary ( prae-limin-aris , “before the threshold”), where prae – is joined to the noun limen . The prefix is combined with an adjective in premature ( prae-maturus , “ripe ahead of time.”
Since mundane (L mundanus ) means “pertaining to the world” (L mundus ), extramundane is an old English word meaning “outside the world,” “not of this world.” Today it has been displaced by extraterrestrial , a modern formation based upon the Latin adjective terrestris (“earthly”). Another space-age word of excellent Latinity is interstellar (L interstellaris ), “between [among] the stars.” Don’t confuse inter- and intra- . Unlike intercollegiate sport, intramural athletics are kept “within the walls.” Can you analyse the English word intermediary ?
Do realize that there are other Latin prefixes not listed in §59. A synonym of sub- is infra- (“below,” “beneath”), occurring in the hybrid infrared and in the colloquial infra dig (L infra dignitatem , “beneath one’s dignity”). Partially synonymous with super- are ultra- and praeter- , both of which mean “beyond.” Ultr aviolet rays are beyond violet in the spectrum; praeternatural events lie beyond the natural.
-
The word
superficies
(pronounced “super-FISH-eez”) exists also in English; it is a doublet of
surface
. ↵