supreme

¹

[suh-preem, soo-]

adjective

1. highest in rank or authority; paramount; sovereign; chief.

2. of the highest quality, degree, character, importance, etc..

   supreme courage.

3. greatest, utmost, or extreme.

   supreme disgust.

4. last or final; ultimate.

suprême

²

[suh-preem, -preym, soo-, sy-prem]

noun

1. Also called sauce suprême. a velouté made with a rich chicken stock.

2. Also called suprême de volaille. a dish prepared or served with this sauce, especially boned chicken breast.

3. Also supreme

   1. a bowl or the like designed for the serving of cold foods in an inner container that is nestled in cracked ice.

   2. a dessert or appetizer served in such a container.

supreme

¹

/ sʊˈpriːm, sjʊ- /

adjective

1. of highest status or power

   a supreme tribunal

2. (usually prenominal) of highest quality, importance, etc

   supreme endeavour

3. greatest in degree; extreme

   supreme folly

4. (prenominal) final or last, esp being last in one's life or progress; ultimate

   the supreme judgment

suprême

²

/ sjʊ-, sʊˈpriːm, -ˈprɛm /

noun

1. Also called: suprême sauce. a rich velouté sauce made with a base of veal or chicken stock, with cream or egg yolks added

2. the best or most delicate part of meat, esp the breast and wing of chicken, cooked in suprême sauce

Other Word Forms

• supremely adverb
• supremeness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of supreme¹

First recorded in 1510–20; from Latin suprēmus “uppermost,” superlative of superus “upper,” adjective derivative of super ( super- )

Origin of supreme²

First recorded in 1830–40; from French, from Latin suprēmus supreme

Word History and Origins

Origin of supreme¹

C16: from Latin suprēmus highest, from superus that is above, from super above

Origin of supreme²

French: _supreme

Example Sentences

At a time when competency in government is questioned, the Library of Congress remains a supreme achievement of intellectual institution-building in the U.S.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Read: Retailers try to downplay worries about lower-income shoppers, as bargains reign supreme.

Read more on MarketWatch

However, the WBC is of supreme importance in the Japanese baseball community; more significant even than the World Series.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Even with a diminished supreme leader, the regime is making decisions and executing plans.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

He said he was a "strong supporter" of the BBC and that Davie was "a supreme talent", but that the outgoing director general had "a blind spot on editorial failings" that led to his downfall.

Read more on BBC