different between fine vs superior

English

Etymology 1

From Middle English fin, fyn, from Old French fin (“fine, minute, exact”), of obscure origin, but probably derived from Latin f?n?re (“to finish”) and/or f?nis (“boundary, limit, end”), with an abstract sense of "fine" or "thin" also arising in many Romance languages (compare Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian fino). Doublet of fino.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /fa?n/,
• Rhymes: -a?n
• (Tasmanian) IPA^(key): /fæ?n/

Adjective

fine (comparative finer, superlative finest)

1. Senses referring to subjective quality.
   1. Of superior quality.

      • "A fine man, that Dunwody, yonder," commented the young captain, as they parted, and as he turned to his prisoner. "We'll see him on in Washington some day. He is strengthening his forces now against Mr. Benton out there. […]."

      Synonyms: good, excellent

   2. (informal) Being acceptable, adequate, passable, or satisfactory.

      Synonyms: all right, ok, o.k., okay, hunky-dory, kosher

   3. (informal) Good-looking, attractive.
   4. Subtle, delicately balanced or discriminated.
   5. (obsolete) Showy; overdecorated.
      • 1853, Matthew Arnold, Preface to The Poems of Matthew Arnold

        They will permit the poet to select any action he pleases, and to suffer that action to go as it will, provided he gratifies them with occasional bursts of fine writing

   6. Delicate; subtle; exquisite; artful; dexterous.
      • c. 1692, John Dryden, Discourse on Satire

        The nicest and most delicate touches of satire consist in fine raillery.

      • 1728, John Gay, The Beggar's Opera

        He has as fine a hand at picking a pocket as a woman.

   7. An answer often used to cover an unnecessary explanation, rather to avoid conflict or an argument. Saying "I'm fine" can be used to avoid inquiry when the speaker is not really okay.

2. Senses referring to objective quality.
   1. Of a particular grade of quality, usually between very good and very fine, and below mint.

   2. (of weather) Sunny and not raining.
   3. Consisting of especially minute particulate; made up of particularly small pieces.

      Synonyms: fine-grained, powdered, powdery, pulverised, pulverized, small-grained

      Antonym: coarse

   4. Particularly slender; especially thin, narrow, or of small girth.

   5. Made of slender or thin filaments.

      Synonym: fine-threaded

      Antonym: coarse

   6. Having a (specified) proportion of pure metal in its composition.

3. (cricket) Behind the batsman and at a small angle to the line between the wickets.

4. (obsolete) Subtle; thin; tenuous.

Derived terms

See below.

Translations

Adverb

fine (comparative more fine, superlative most fine)

1. Expression of (typically) reluctant agreement.

   Synonyms: all right, alright, OK, very well

2. Well, nicely, in a positive way.

   Everything worked out fine.

3. (dated, dialect, colloquial) Finely; elegantly; delicately.
4. (pool, billiards) In a manner so that the driven ball strikes the object ball so far to one side as to be barely deflected, the object ball being driven to one side.

Translations

Noun

fine (plural fines)

1. Fine champagne; French brandy.
   • 1926, Ernest Hemingway, The Sun Also Rises, Scribner 2003, page 14:

     We had dined at l'Avenue's, and afterward went to the Café de Versailles for coffee. We had several fines after the coffee, and I said I must be going.

   • 1936, Djuna Barnes, Nightwood, Faber & Faber 2007, page 18:

     He refilled his glass. ‘The fine is very good,’ he said.

2. (usually in the plural) Something that is fine; fine particles.

   They filtered silt and fines out of the soil.

Usage notes

Particularly used in plural as fines of ground coffee beans in espresso making.

See also

• filing

Verb

fine (third-person singular simple present fines, present participle fining, simple past and past participle fined)

1. (transitive) To make finer, purer, or cleaner; to purify or clarify.

   to fine gold

   • 1666 (written), 1681 (published), Thomas Hobbes, A Dialogue between a Philosopher and a Student of the Common Laws of England

     It hath been fined and refined by […] learned men.

2. (intransitive) To become finer, purer, or cleaner.
3. To make finer, or less coarse, as in bulk, texture, etc.

   to fine the soil

   (Can we find and add a quotation of L. H. Bailey to this entry?)

4. To change by fine gradations.

   to fine down a ship's lines, i.e. to diminish her lines gradually

   • I often sate at home / On evenings, watching how they fined themselves / With gradual conscience to a perfect night.

5. (transitive) To clarify (wine and beer) by filtration.
6. (intransitive, dated) To become gradually fine; to diminish; to dwindle (with away, down, or off).
   • 1882, William Clark Russell, My Watch Below

     I watched her [the ship] […] gradually fining down in the westward until I lost sight of her hull.

Synonyms

• (to make or become finer, purer, or cleaner): clarify, refine, purify

Related terms

• (clarify by filtration): finings

Translations

Derived terms

Related terms

• final
• finite

Etymology 2

From Middle English fyn, fyne, from Old French fin, from Medieval Latin finis (“a payment in settlement or tax”). Doublet of finis.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /fa?n/,

Noun

fine (plural fines)

2. A fee levied as punishment for breaking the law.

   The fine for jay-walking has gone from two dollars to thirty in the last fifteen years.

Synonyms

• amercement

Translations

Verb

fine (third-person singular simple present fines, present participle fining, simple past and past participle fined)

2. (transitive) To issue a fine as punishment to (someone).

3. (intransitive) To pay a fine.
   • 1818, Henry Hallam, View of the State of Europe during the Middle Ages

     Men fined for the king's good will; or that he would remit his anger; women fined for leave to marry.

Synonyms

• amerce

Translations

Related terms

• finance

Etymology 3

From Italian fine (“end”).

Pronunciation

• enPR: f?'n?, IPA^(key): /?fi?ne?/

Noun

fine (plural fines)

1. (music) The end of a musical composition.
2. (music) The location in a musical score that indicates the end of the piece, particularly when the piece ends somewhere in the middle of the score due to a section of the music being repeated.

Usage notes

This word is virtually never used in speech and therefore essentially confined to musical notation.

Derived terms

• da capo al fine=D.C. al fine

Etymology 4

From Middle English finen, fynen, from Old French finer, finir. See finish (transitive verb).

Verb

fine (third-person singular simple present fines, present participle fining, simple past and past participle fined)

1. (obsolete, intransitive) To finish; to cease.
2. (obsolete, transitive) To cause to cease; to stop.

Noun

fine (plural fines)

1. (obsolete) End; conclusion; termination; extinction.
2. A final agreement concerning lands or rents between persons, as the lord and his vassal.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Spelman to this entry?)

3. (Britain, law) A sum of money or price paid for obtaining a benefit, favor, or privilege, as for admission to a copyhold, or for obtaining or renewing a lease.

References

• “fine”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–present.

Anagrams

• Enif, Fein, NiFe, feni, ifen, neif, nief, nife

Asturian

Verb

fine

1. first/third-person singular present subjunctive of finar

Danish

Adjective

fine

1. plural and definite singular attributive of fin

Esperanto

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?fine/
• Hyphenation: fi?ne
• Rhymes: -ine
• Audio:

Adverb

fine

1. finally, at last; at the end
2. in the final analysis, when all's said and done

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /fin/
• Rhymes: -in

Adjective

fine

1. feminine singular of fin

Noun

fine f (plural fines)

1. (typography) thin space, non-breakable space
2. a number of high grade French brandies (usually AOC certified)

Further reading

• “fine” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

Futuna-Aniwa

Noun

fine

1. woman, female (of any sort)

References

• Arthur Capell, Futuna-Aniwa Dictionary, with Grammatical Introduction (1984)

Ido

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?fine/

Adverb

fine

1. finally

Irish

Etymology

From Old Irish fine, from Proto-Celtic *weny? (“family”), from Proto-Indo-European *wenh?- (“desire”); compare Old English wine (“friend”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?f??n??/

Noun

fine f (genitive singular fine, nominative plural finte)

1. family group
   1. race
   2. territory of a family group

Declension

Derived terms

• Fine Gael

Mutation

Further reading

• "fine" in Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla, An Gúm, 1977, by Niall Ó Dónaill.
• Entries containing “fine” in English-Irish Dictionary, An Gúm, 1959, by Tomás de Bhaldraithe.
• Entries containing “fine” in New English-Irish Dictionary by Foras na Gaeilge.

Italian

Etymology

From Latin f?nis.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?fi.ne/
• Hyphenation: fì?ne

Adjective

fine (plural fini)

1. thin

   Synonym: sottile

2. fine
3. refined

   Synonym: elegante

Derived terms

• finemente

Adjective

fine

1. feminine plural of fino

Noun

fine f (plural fini)

1. end

   Synonyms: conclusione, finale, termine

   Antonyms: inizio, principio

Noun

fine m (plural fini)

1. aim, purpose, end

   Synonyms: scopo, obiettivo

Related terms

Anagrams

• feni

Latin

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /?fi?.ne/, [?fi?n?]
• (Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /?fi.ne/, [?fi?n?]

Noun

f?ne

1. ablative singular of f?nis

References

• fine in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers

Manx

Etymology

From Old Irish faigen (“sheath, scabbard”), from Latin v?g?na. Cognate with Irish faighin and Scottish Gaelic faighean.

Noun

fine m (genitive singular fine, plural fineyn)

1. quiver
2. sheath, scabbard

   Synonym: laan

3. (anatomy) vagina

   Synonyms: pihtt, pitt

Synonyms

• cuinnag

Mutation

North Frisian

Etymology

From Old Frisian finda, which derives from Proto-West Germanic *finþan. Cognates include Föhr-Amrum North Frisian finj and West Frisian fine.

Verb

fine

1. (Mooring Dialect) to find

Conjugation

Norwegian Bokmål

Adjective

fine

1. definite singular of fin
2. plural of fin

Norwegian Nynorsk

Adjective

fine

1. definite singular of fin
2. plural of fin

Old Irish

Etymology

From Proto-Celtic *weny?.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?f?in?e/

Noun

fine f

1. family, kin, group of people of common descent
2. clan, tribe, race

Inflection

Descendants

• Irish: fine

Mutation

Further reading

• Gregory Toner, Maire Ní Mhaonaigh, Sharon Arbuthnot, Dagmar Wodtko, Maire-Luise Theuerkauf, editors (2019) , “fine”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language

Portuguese

Pronunciation

• Hyphenation: fi?ne

Verb

fine

1. first-person singular (eu) present subjunctive of finar
2. third-person singular (ele and ela, also used with você and others) present subjunctive of finar
3. third-person singular (você) affirmative imperative of finar
4. third-person singular (você) negative imperative of finar

Romanian

Etymology

From Italian fine, and partly French fin.

Noun

fine f (uncountable)

1. (literary) end

   Synonym: sfâr?it

Derived terms

• în fine

Spanish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?fine/, [?fi.ne]

Verb

fine

1. Informal second-person singular (tú) affirmative imperative form of finir.
2. Formal second-person singular (usted) present indicative form of finir.
3. Third-person singular (él, ella, also used with usted^?) present indicative form of finir.

Swedish

Adjective

fine

1. absolute definite natural masculine form of fin.

West Frisian

Etymology

From Old Frisian finda, from Proto-West Germanic *finþan.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?fin?/

Verb

fine

1. to find
2. to decide that, to form the opinion that

Inflection

Further reading

• “fine (I)”, in Wurdboek fan de Fryske taal (in Dutch), 2011

English

Alternative forms

• superiour (British) (obsolete)

Etymology

Middle English, borrowed from Old French superiour, from Latin superior (“higher, upper”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /su??p??.?i.?/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /s??p??.i.?/
• Rhymes: -???i?(?)

Adjective

superior (not comparable)

1. Higher in rank, status, or quality.
   1. Of high standard or quality.
   2. Greater in size or power.
   3. (superior to) Beyond the power or influence of; too great or firm to be subdued or affected by.
   4. Greater or better than average.

      Synonym: extraordinary

2. Courageously or serenely indifferent (as to something painful or disheartening).
3. (typography) Printed in superscript.

4. Located above or out; higher in position.
   1. (botany) (of a calyx) Above the ovary; said of parts of the flower which, although normally below the ovary, adhere to it, and so appear to originate from its upper part.
   2. (botany) (of an ovary) Above and free from the other floral organs.
   3. (botany) Belonging to the part of an axillary flower which is toward the main stem.

      Synonym: posterior

   4. (botany) (of the radicle) Pointing toward the apex of the fruit.

      Synonym: ascending

5. (taxonomy) More comprehensive.

6. Affecting or assuming an air of superiority.

   Synonym: supercilious

7. (astronomy) (of a planet) Closer to the Earth than to the Sun.

Usage notes

• Superior and inferior are generally followed by to; than is sometimes used mistakenly.

Antonyms

• inferior

Coordinate terms

• (dentistry location adjectives) anterior,? apical,? apicocoronal,? axial,? buccal,? buccoapical,? buccocervical,? buccogingival,? buccolabial,? buccolingual,? bucco-occlusal,? buccopalatal,? cervical,? coronal,? coronoapical,? distal,? distoapical,? distobuccal,? distocervical,? distocoronal,? distofacial,? distogingival,? distoincisal,? distolingual,? disto-occlusal,? distoclusal,? distocclusal,? distopalatal,? facial,? gingival,? incisal,? incisocervical,? inferior,? labial,? lingual,? linguobuccal,? linguo-occlusal,? mandibular,? maxillary,? mesial,? mesioapical,? mesiobuccal,? mesiocervical,? mesiocoronal,? mesiodistal,? mesiofacial,? mesioincisal,? mesiogingival,? mesiolingual,? mesio-occlusal,? mesioclusal,? mesiocclusal,? mesiopalatal,? occlusal,? palatal,? posterior,? proximal,? superior,? vestibular ^{(Category: en:Dentistry) [edit]}

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

Noun

superior (plural superiors)

1. A person of higher rank or quality, especially a colleague in a higher position.

   Synonym: overling

   1. The senior person in a monastic community.
   2. The head of certain religious institutions and colleges.

      Hyponyms: father superior, mother superior

2. (printing) A superior letter, figure, or symbol.

   Synonym: superscript

3. (Scotland, law, historical) One who has made an original grant of heritable property to a tenant or vassal, on condition of a certain annual payment (feu duty) or of the performance of certain services.

Translations

References

• “superior”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–present.
• “superior”, in Merriam–Webster Online Dictionary, (Please provide a date or year).
• superior in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• superior at OneLook Dictionary Search

Catalan

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin superior, attested from 1653.

Pronunciation

• (Balearic, Central) IPA^(key): /su.p?.?i?o/
• (Valencian) IPA^(key): /su.pe.?i?o?/

Adjective

superior (masculine and feminine plural superiors)

1. superior, higher, high

   Antonym: inferior

Related terms

• superioritat

Noun

superior m or f (plural superiors)

1. superior

References

Further reading

• “superior” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.
• “superior” in Diccionari normatiu valencià, Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua.
• “superior” in Diccionari català-valencià-balear, Antoni Maria Alcover and Francesc de Borja Moll, 1962.

Latin

Etymology

Comparative of superus (“that is above, upper, higher”), from super (“above, over”, preposition) +? -us (adjectival suffix).

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /su?pe.ri.or/, [s???p??i?r]
• (Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /su?pe.ri.or/, [su?p???i?r]

Adjective

superior (neuter superius, positive superus); third declension

1. (of place) Higher, upper.
2. (of time or order of succession) Former, past, previous, preceding.
   1. (especially of age, time of life, etc.) Older, elder, senior, more advanced, former.
3. (of strength or success in battle or any contest) Victorious, conquering, stronger, superior.
4. (of quality, condition, number, etc.) Higher, more distinguished, greater, superior.

Inflection

Third-declension comparative adjective.

Descendants

References

• superior in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• superior in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
• superior in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré Latin-Français, Hachette
• Carl Meissner; Henry William Auden (1894) Latin Phrase-Book?^[1], London: Macmillan and Co.

Portuguese

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin superior.

Pronunciation

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /su.p???jo?/
• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /su.pe.?i.?o?/
• Hyphenation: su?pe?ri?or

Adjective

superior m or f (plural superiores, comparable)

1. upper, higher
2. better
3. superior

Antonyms

• inferior

Derived terms

• superiormente

Related terms

• superioridade

Noun

superior m (plural superiores, feminine superiora, feminine plural superioras)

1. boss
2. head of a monastery

Further reading

• “superior” in Dicionário Priberam da Língua Portuguesa.

Romanian

Etymology

Borrowed from French supérieur, Latin superior.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?su.pe.ri?or/

Adjective

superior m or n (feminine singular superioar?, masculine plural superiori, feminine and neuter plural superioare)

1. superior

Declension

Antonyms

• inferior

Related terms

• superioritate

Spanish

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin superior.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /supe??jo?/, [su.pe??jo?]

Adjective

superior (plural superiores)

1. upper, higher
2. better
3. superior

Derived terms

Noun

superior m (plural superiores, feminine superiora, feminine plural superioras)

1. boss

   Synonyms: jefe, jefa, patrón, patrona

Related terms

• superioridad

Further reading

• “superior” in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014.