When I hear an uncommon word three times in a row, I take notice, so when supercilious kept coming up it got my attention. It’s not a word one hears in normal conversation only occasionally appearing on the page.
An adjective meaning, behaving or looking as though one thinks one is superior to others. Boy did that ring a bell, and not an ordinary one either, more like the Liberty Bell or the ones Quasimodo rang at Notre Dame.
I live on the Upper East Side of Manhattan probably the most supercilious neighborhood in the tri-state area. It bleats with superiority, entitlement, privilege and pride.
If you were to highlight it with another word, obnoxious would do just fine.
I’ve often pondered the attitude of the rich…those who have been given the grace to have more than others. Humility, one of my favorite words, is rarely seen something that, call me crazy, continues to mystify.
Just this morning I had words with a couple smoking, eating lox and bagels on my doorstep. All I asked was for them to move aside so I could get in, and the tirade I received in French no less could have curled your hair. Remembering what happened in Paris two weeks ago held my tongue, but the look on my face made them scatter like pigeons who would have made less of a mess since they left all their trash as though they were lunching in a park where littering was encouraged.
One could say, superciliousness ruled the day while this humble Franciscan’s facial expression fought back forgetting her vows of nonentity.
Fuck that, is what I say.
I personally feel anyone suffering from superciliousness syndrome is more or less brain dead. What other explanation can there be.
To be, snooty, sneering, snobby and smug…condescending, pompous, imperious and proud leaves me scratching my head.
Grace is given and whether you’re an Astor or Smith, gratitude is in order because any minute it could all be taken away. Just ask Isidor and Ida Strauss, the owners of Macy’s Department Store, who went down on the Titanic bobbing in the water right next to those in steerage. I would think superciliousness held little sway in the water.
Words, no offense to the Strausses, float my boat, with great humility I might add. So put that in your supercilious hat and smoke it.
SB
I think it all comes down to economics. The wealthy could not possibly earn (in any meaningful sense of the word) enough to sustain their hedonistic and self-indulgent life-styles. So they need a method to keep the rest of us in our places and generating wealth for them to spend. Establishing and maintaining hierarchy is a fundamental component. They are far from brain dead: indeed they are playing the rest of us for fools.
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I meant in terms of feeling toward others. Your explanation is much too complicated for me. Lack of grace and humility is all I ever see.
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I over analyse. It’s the black belt in me: always searching for root causes. 😉
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How bout, you’re a smart, interesting, well-read man with a point of view. I like that description of you Mick, much better 🙂
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You’re too kind.
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It’s all about perspective Matey 🙂
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Where was this word yesterday when I needed it? Not even 8:30 in the morning when I was hit right in the face with one of these supercilious “people”. A woman came barging into our office, squeezing right past the elderly woman trying to maneuver her gigantic husband in a wheelchair. Why? To be F I R S T! I believe these people are born with blinders on as well…how else could she not see the woman struggling, the husband apologizing for his disability … again and me moving chairs out of the way and holding the door? The only thing she said to me was “Am I first?” Let’s just say supercilious sounds so much nicer than what I was mumbling.
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Forgive me, but I love this story. Can you imagine how she drives? Just now when leaving Starbucks with my hands full a woman coming in did not hold the door but rather swung past me letting it go in my face. Talk about mumbling. I’ve learned to ask, how important is this, before jumping in the ring. New York should be renamed The Supercilious State. Nothin like a good Top rant to start off my day. 🙂
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I couldn’t stop thinking about this yesterday …lol! I was just glad it was a Supercilious free day…. ah the little things.
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I did not have a supercilious free day I’m afraid. It tails me like a hospital you owe money to.
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You poor thing …. ugh
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I’ll live I could always move to Deluth.
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There isn’t a constant stream of supercilious behavior up north, but when the trickle appears it promptly gets put in its place.
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Well that’s good to hear 🙂
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I always think of that tv show The Jeffersons when you mention the Upper East Side of Manhattan. 😊 I know a few people that supercilious may apply to. ~Elle
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The building they used for the facade of where they lived is on 85th between Lexington and Third Avenues. I remember the song..movin on up. Loved Wheezie, the wife 🙂
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George was the supercilious one!
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Yes he was…LOL
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It’s a good word that doesn’t quite sound like a put-down but it is. Love those kind of words.
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It’s like they come in the back door.
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So glad you’re a logophile like me. 🙂
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I am. That was very clever.
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