Etymology

superfine

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Today it means: Extremely subtle or refined; extremely sensitive to slight impressions or perceptions. Full definition →

First used 16th c.English fine ← Latin super- ← Proto-Italic *super
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The story

  1. Proto-Indo-European*úp
  2. Proto-Indo-European*upér
  3. Proto-Italic*super
  4. Latinsuper
  5. Latinsuper-
  6. Englishsuper-
  7. Englishfine
  8. English todaysuperfine

From super- + fine.

First known use, by meaning

  • from 16th c. Extremely subtle or refined; extremely sensitive to slight impressions or perceptions.
  • from 16th c. Extremely refined or sophisticated; very elegant.
  • from 17th c. Having an especially fine size or texture; made of very small particles or threads.
  • from 17th c. Of a very high or pure grade or quality.
  • from 19th c. Very good, excellent.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.