Wiktionary

superhuman

English

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Etymology

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From Medieval Latin superhūmānus. By surface analysis, super- +‎ human.[1][2]

Pronunciation

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  • Audio (US):(file)

Adjective

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superhuman (comparative more superhuman, superlative most superhuman)

  1. Beyond what is possible for a human being.
    Synonyms: suprahuman, ultrahuman
    Coordinate terms: human; transhuman, posthuman
    • 1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XIX, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume III, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, page 158:
      How often, during her young life, had she looked upon the face of the dead!—it was now almost more familiar than the living. Again she marked the still repose, the calm, cold hue, the superhuman beauty, the look which is not of this world, here strongly contrasted by the troubled countenance of Lord Avonleigh.
    • 1879, J. Berry, “IMPENDING CRISIS.”, in The Roman Empire Revived. An Outline of Coming Events, and an Harmonious Elucidation of the Prophecies Having Reference Thereto: Also the Rapture of the True Church, with a New and Satisfactory Explanation of the Symbolic Number 666.‎[1] (Religion), Cincinnati, Ohio: Wrightson & Co., →OCLC, page 50:
      An extraordinary character at the head of a leading power in Europe will be the immediate instrumentality in organizing the coming Roman Empire; but extraordinary occasions always bring out such.
      The great Napoleon, and the Imperial Confederation which he organized, afford an illustration. But the head of the Revived Roman Empire will be, in many respects, a more extraordinary character than the great Napoleon. The coming character will be an unscrupulous, impious, daring person, endowed with satanic intelligence and skill, and wielding a species of superhuman power over the minds of men. He is styled by the inspired Apostle, "that man of sin, the son of perdition, who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped."
    • 1886 October – 1887 January, H[enry] Rider Haggard, She: A History of Adventure, London: Longmans, Green, and Co., published 1887, →OCLC:
      I could have flown at him, shame upon me! The woman had confounded and almost destroyed my moral sense, as she was bound to confound all who looked upon her superhuman loveliness.
    • 1912 January, Zane Grey, chapter 15, in Riders of the Purple Sage […], New York, N.Y., London: Harper & Brothers Publishers, →OCLC:
      No doubt, Jane thought, the rider, in his almost superhuman power of foresight, saw behind the horizon the dark, lengthening shadows that were soon to crowd and gloom over him and her and little Fay.
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Translations

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See also

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Noun

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superhuman (plural superhumans)

  1. A human with remarkable abilities or superpowers.
    Antonyms: infrahuman, subhuman
    Coordinate terms: human; transhuman, posthuman
    • 2023 November 14, Stuart Heritage, “Actors are back on the promo beat. And – as Adam Driver shows – this time, they mean business”, in The Guardian‎[2], →ISSN:
      Here is a man who, during a potentially testy moment of promotion, retained the clarity of thought to reach deep down into himself, locate the purest possible version of his personality and say: “Fuck you.” What a superhuman he is.

References

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  1. ^ “superhuman”, in Collins English Dictionary.
  2. ^ Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “superhuman”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
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