a. Obs. rare. [a. OF. superbieus (= obs. It. superbioso) or ad. med.L. *superbiōsus, f. superbia pride, f. superbus SUPERB.]
1. Proud, overbearing, insolent.
c. 1510. Kalendar of Sheph., E iv. Ye moyste rayne of dethe whiche … causeth them to tomble by the strength of theyr superbyous blastes into the fourneys euerlastynge.
1595. Locrine, II. iv. 25. Superbious Brittaine, thou shalt know too soone The force of Humber and his Scithians.
1603. Harsnet, Pop. Impost., xxiii. 162. That addition, in scorne and superbious contempt annexed by you, vnto our publique prayer, God saue the Queene.
a. 1700[?]. in D’Israeli, Cur. Lit., Hist. Theatre during Suppr. Those proud parroting players … a sort of superbious ruffians.
2. Stately, grand, superb.
1588. Parke, trans. Mendoza’s Hist. China, 17. In all such cities that bee the heads of the prouinces, is resident a vizroy,… and dwelleth in the house that (in euery such citie) the king hath ordeined … all the which … are superbious and admirable.
1650. J. Reynolds, Flower Fidel., 5. Beholding the Zephyr-Gale fairly blow the Swanlike Sails from the superbious Mast.
1657. Tomlinson, Renou’s Disp., Pref. Here you may view the superbious Trees.
1714. Mrs. Manley, Adv. Rivella (ed. 2), 79. Parting with the superbious chief Seat of the Doubles.
Hence † Superbiously adv., superbly; † Superbiousness, superbness.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., VIII. 369. Mosquees … are well benefited and superbiously decored within and without.
c. 1650. Don Bellianis, 78. The Prince Don Gallaneo … did superbiously adorn himself.
1654. Cokaine, Dianea, IV. 367. The superbiousnesse of Asia, and the rarities of Africa here demonstrated the extreames of their power.
