supercilious Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective satellite having or showing arrogant superiority to and disdain of those one views as unworthy
    overbearing; haughty; swaggering; prideful; imperious; lordly; disdainful; sniffy.
    • some economists are disdainful of their colleagues in other social disciplines
    • haughty aristocrats
    • his lordly manners were offensive
    • walked with a prideful swagger
    • very sniffy about breaches of etiquette
    • his mother eyed my clothes with a supercilious air
    • a more swaggering mood than usual"- W.L.Shirer
  2. adjective satellite expressive of contempt
    sneering; snide.
    • curled his lip in a supercilious smile
    • spoke in a sneering jeering manner
    • makes many a sharp comparison but never a mean or snide one

WordNet

Su`per*cil"i*ous adjective
Etymology
L. superciliosus, fr. supercilium an eyebrow, pride; super over, + cilium an eyelid; probably akin to celare to conceal. Cf. Conceal.
Definitions
  1. Lofty with pride; haughty; dictatorial; overbearing; arrogant; as, a supercilious officer; asupercilious air; supercilious behavior. -- Su`per*cil"i*ous*ly, adv. -- Su`per*cil"i*ous*ness, n.

Webster 1913