a. [ad. L. superbus proud, superior, distinguished, magnificent. Cf. F. superbe, It. superbo.]
1. Of buildings, monuments, and the like: Of noble and magnificent proportions or aspect.
1549. Compl. Scot., iii. 25. The kyng anchises lamentit the distructione of the superb troy.
1683. Brit. Spec., 111. Their humble Cottages he changed into fair Houses and stately Palaces, superb Porticoes, and sumptuous Baths.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 23 May 1645. Behind the quire is the superb chapell of Ferdinand I.
1756–7. trans. Keysler’s Trav. (1760), II. 398. This superb obelisk was, by order of Sixtus V. … removed.
1821. Scott, Kenilw., xxxviii. In this mood, the vindictive and ambitious Earl entered the superb precincts of the Pleasance.
1868. Freeman, Norm. Conq., II. x. 508. The church itself … gradually gave way to the superb structure with which we are all familiar.
2. Grandly and sumptuously equipped, arrayed or decorated.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 22 Oct. 1658. Saw the superb funerall of the Protector.
1717. Prior, Alma, I. 382. Thus, if You Dine with my Lord May’r,… painted Flags, superb and neat, Proclaim You welcome to the Treat.
1763. Churchill, Ghost, IV. 639. A superb and feather’d hearse, Bescutcheon’d and betagg’d with Verse.
1795. Gentl. Mag., July, 607/1. A superb watch, set with brilliants.
1814. Scott, Wav., xvi. He fired his piece accordingly, but missed the superb monarch of tho feathered tribes.
1894. P. Pinkerton, Adriatica, On Asolan Hills. I survey The procession superb of the clouds.
b. in specific appellations of many gorgeously colored birds, plants, etc.; see quots.
Superb bird of paradise, Lophorhina (Paradisea) superba, a species of which the male is violet-black with green iridescence, having a gorget of metallic green feathers, and an erectile hood or mantle of velvet-black plumes on the shoulders; superb lily, a plant of the genus Gloriosa (Methonica), esp. G. superba; superb warbler, the blue wren of Australia, Malurus cyaneus. (See Shaw’s Zool. for many other names of birds.)
1760. J. Lee, Introd. Bot. (1788), App., Superb Lily, Gloriosa.
1783. Latham, Gen. Synopsis Birds, II. II. 709. Superb Pheasant, Phasianus superbus.
1796. Nemnich, Polygl.-Lex., Superb warbler, Motacilla cyanea.
1802. Shaw, Gen. Zool., III. II. 433. Superb Snake. Coluber Elegantissimus … appears to be a beautiful species, measuring about two feet in length. Ibid. (1809), VII. II. 494. Superb Paradise-bird. Paradisea Superba.… This species is about the size of a Thrush, and is a bird of great singularity of plumage.
1847. L. Leichhardt, Overland Exped., iii. 80. We also observed the superb warbler, Malurus cyaneus of Sydney.
1902. Encycl. Brit., XXV. 795/1. The death adder, the brown, the black, the superb, and the tiger snakes [of Australia].
3. Of conditions, language, thought, etc.: Grand, stately, majestic.
1784. Cowper, Tiroc., 751. Or is thine house, though less superb thy rank, If not a scene of pleasure, a mere blank.
1825. J. Neal, Bro. Jonathan, I. 90. The superb language of Job.
a. 1834. Coleridge, Notes & Lect. Shaks. (1875), 220. The lines, as epic narrative, are superb.
1851. Ruskin, Stones Venice, I. vii. § 17. A superb breadth of proportion.
4. Expressing emphatic approval: Very fine; splendid; magnificent.
a. 1729. Congreve, An Impossible Thing, 190. Not all the Wiles that Hell could hatch Could conquer that Superb Mustach.
1753. Mrs. Delany, Lett. to Mrs. Dewes, 3 Dec. It is one of the finest things I ever read in my life; was ever a superb family better described!
1827. Disraeli, Viv. Grey, V. ix. The dinner was sumptuous, the wines superb.
1872. Jenkinson, Engl. Lake Distr. (1879), 181. During the descent there are superb views of a portion of the higher reach of Ullswater.
1908. [Miss Fowler], Betw. Trent & Ancholme, 160. One of the most superb singers of our century.
† 5. Proud, haughty. Obs.
1654. trans. Scudery’s Curia Pol., 166. If they be too superb and haughty their pride is to be punished with severity.
a. 1697. Aubrey, Lives, W. Oughtred (1898), II. 111. Before he dyed he burned a world of papers, and sayd that the world was not worthy of them; he was so superb.
