Literary notes about Supercilious (AI summary)
The word supercilious is often used by literary authors to convey an attitude of haughty superiority or condescension—a subtle yet cutting marker of a character’s inner arrogance. It may imply action as simple as raising an eyebrow [1, 2] or be manifested in vocal tones and demeanors that suggest disdain [3, 4, 5]. In narratives spanning satirical social commentary [6, 7] to detailed character studies in works by Austen [8, 9], Dickens [10, 11], and Dostoyevsky [12, 13, 14, 15], supercilious behavior frequently marks a figure as both detached and embattled by inner pride. This linguistic nuance not only enriches character portrayal but also underscores complex social hierarchies, making even a casual nod or smile a significant revelation of personal and cultural attitudes [16, 17, 18].
- Spirit primarily means wind ; transgression , the crossing of a line ; supercilious , the raising of the eyebrow .
— from Nature by Ralph Waldo Emerson - A supercilious person was one who rais'd his eyebrows.
— from Complete Prose Works by Walt Whitman - He looked angry, severe, and supercilious.
— from The possessed : by Fyodor Dostoyevsky - “What's all this?” Soames looked at him with his supercilious calm unbroken, but James knew well enough that he was violently angry.
— from The Forsyte Saga, Volume I. by John Galsworthy - “I think,” said Sir Leopold, with a supercilious smile, “that Ruby means a Socialist.”
— from The innocence of Father Brown by G. K. Chesterton - We supercilious civilized folk laugh at the odd dress { 69} of the savage; but it was exactly adapted to the need.
— from Vikings of the PacificThe Adventures of the Explorers who Came from the West, Eastward by Agnes C. Laut - supercilious, disdainful, bumptious, magisterial, imperious, high and mighty, overweening, consequential; arrogant &c. 885; unblushing &c. 880.
— from Roget's Thesaurus by Peter Mark Roget - For, though elated by his rank, it did not render him supercilious; on the contrary, he was all attention to everybody.
— from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen - For though elated by his rank, it did not render him supercilious; on the contrary, he was all attention to every body.
— from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen - ‘Ah,’ said the red-haired man, surveying Mr. Weller from head to foot with a supercilious look.
— from The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens - A distant supercilious air makes a cold atmosphere about her, and there is nothing in her bearing, as there was before, to encourage openness.
— from Bleak House by Charles Dickens - There was even a supercilious note in his voice.
— from The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky - The startling, incredibly supercilious tone of this man who had once been his valet, was extraordinary in itself.
— from The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky - Though he looked down upon every one, he was a good comrade and not supercilious.
— from The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky - The invalid pointed with a supercilious smile to his little bag.
— from The possessed : by Fyodor Dostoyevsky - George's valet was looking on in a very supercilious manner at Mr. Clapp in his shirt-sleeves, watering his rose-bushes.
— from Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray - " "I am told, on excellent authority, that her father keeps an American dry-goods store," said Sir Thomas Burdon, looking supercilious.
— from The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde - What I should say you've got to do is to follow her..” Soames smiled; his peculiar, supercilious smile had never before looked pitiable.
— from The Forsyte Saga, Volume I. by John Galsworthy
