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Origin and history of higher

higher

comparative of high (adj.), Old English hierra (West Saxon), hera (Anglian). Higher education is attested by 1839.

The French distinguish l'instruction secondaire, which includes what we term a liberal education, from l'instruction supérieure, which denotes professional education; but I do not think the corresponding English phrases are used with this distinction. [William Whewell, "Of a Liberal Education in General," 1850]

Higher-up (n.) "one in a superior post" is from 1905, American English.

Entries linking to higher

high(adj.)

Old English heh (Anglian), heah (West Saxon) "of great height, tall, conspicuously elevated; lofty, exalted, high-class," from Proto-Germanic *hauha- (source also of Old Saxon hoh, Old Norse har, Danish høi, Swedish hög, Old Frisian hach, Dutch hoog, Old High German hoh, German hoch, Gothic hauhs "high;" also German Hügel "hill," Old Norse haugr "mound"). The group is of uncertain origin; perhaps related to Lithuanian kaukara "hill," from PIE *kouko-. Spelling with -gh represents a final guttural sound in the original word, lost since 14c.

Of sound pitch, late 14c. Of roads, "most frequented or important," c. 1200 (high road in the figurative sense is from 1793). Meaning "euphoric or exhilarated from alcohol" is first attested 1620s, of drugs, 1932. Sense of "proud, haughty, arrogant, supercilious" (c. 1200) is reflected in high-handed and high horse. Of an evil or a punishment, "grave, serious, severe" (as in high treason), c. 1200 (Old English had heahsynn "deadly sin, crime").

High school "school for advanced studies" attested from late 15c. in Scotland; by 1824 in U.S. High time "fully time, the fullness of time," is from late 14c.; also "last possible moment" (early 15c.). High noon (when the sun is at the meridian) is from early 14c.; the sense is "full, total, complete." High finance (1884) is that concerned with large sums. High tea (1831) is one at which hot meats are served. High-water mark is what is left by a flood or highest tide (1550s); figurative use by 1814.

High and mighty is c. 1200 (heh i mahhte) "exalted and powerful," formerly a compliment to princes, etc. High and dry of beached things (especially ships) is from 1783.

hierarchy(n.)

late 14c., jerarchie, ierarchie, "rank in the sacred order; one of the three divisions of the nine orders of angels;" loosely, "rule, dominion," from Old French ierarchie (14c., Modern French hiérarchie), from Medieval Latin hierarchia "ranked division of angels" (in the system of Dionysius the Areopagite).

This is from Greek hierarkhia "rule of a high priest," from hierarkhēs "high priest, leader of sacred rites" (see hierarch).

The sense of "ranked organization of persons or things" is recorded in English by 1610s, initially of clergy, and probably influenced or reinforced by resemblance to unrelated higher.

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    superior
    late 14c., "higher in position," from Old French superior "higher, upper" (Modern French superieur), from Latin superiorem...(nominative superior) "higher," comparative of superus "situated above, upper," from super "above, over" (from PIE root...Meaning "higher in rank or dignity" is attested from late 15c.; sense of "of a higher nature or character" is attested from...
    above
    northern dialects, abow in southwestern dialects), from Old English abufan (adv., prep.), earlier onbufan "above, in or to a higher...place, on the upper side; directly over, in or to a higher place than," a contraction or compound of on (also see a- (1)...From c. 1200 as "of higher rank or position, superior in authority or power; of higher rank than, superior to."...This sense in Middle English perhaps was reinforced by a literal use of above in the sense "higher at the table than," thus...
    promote
    late 14c., promoten, "to advance (someone) to a higher grade or office, exalt or raise to a higher post or position," from...
    piccolo
    "small flute sounding an octave higher than the ordinary flute," 1830, from piccolo flute (1809), from French piccolo, from...The Octave Flute is frequently miscalled a Piccolo, whereas it is merely an octave higher in pitch than the concert flute...
    enhance
    late 13c., anhaunsen "to raise, make higher," from Anglo-French enhauncer, probably from Old French enhaucier "make greater..., make higher or louder; fatten, foster; raise in esteem," from Vulgar Latin *inaltiare, from Late Latin inaltare "raise,...
    degrade
    late 14c., degraden, "deprive of office, dignity, or honors; reduce from a higher to a lower rank," from Old French degrader...
    callipygian
    beauty" (see Callisto) + pygē "rump, buttocks," which Beekes calls "A slang word, completely avoided in epic poetry and higher...
    mellow
    mid-15c., melwe, of fruit, "soft, sweet, juicy" (especially from ripeness), perhaps a variant of merow "soft, tender," from Old English mearu "soft, tender." General sense of "of ripe age or quality, perfected by maturing," from 1590s. Of color by 1560s; of sound, "soft, rich, or
    owl
    "raptorial nocturnal bird of prey of the family Strigidæ," Middle English oule, from Old English ule "owl," from Proto-Germanic *uwwalon- (source also of Middle Dutch, Dutch uil, Old High German uwila, German Eule, Old Norse ugla), a diminutive of PIE root *u(wa)l-, which is imit
    low
    "not high, below the usual level," late 13c., earlier lah (late 12c.), "not rising much, being near the base or ground" (of objects or persons), also "lying on the ground or in a deep place" (late 13c.). This is not found in Old English, so the word is probably from Old Norse lag

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