Today's word is the adjective summus. Like the word primus, this is actually a superlative form. There is an adjective, superus, and it actually has three different superlative forms: superrimus (a form which you will never see used), supremus (which tends to be a more poetic word) and summus. So, while superus means "being above, being high," summus means "uppermost, highest, topmost."
The word summus is a very commonly used word in Latin, and it gives us a few words in English, too, like "summit," which is the top of a mountain. The English word "sum" also gives us a clue about Roman mathematics: when the Romans wrote up numbers to sum, they put the total at the top, not at the bottom as we do.
Not surprisingly, the spatial meaning of "highest" also extends into the metaphorical sphere, meaning "greatest, best," etc. So, for example, in the phrase we still use in English today: summa cum laude. It can also mean "last" or "final," as in this famous saying from Vergil's Aeneid: Venit summa dies et ineluctabile tempus.
Here are some sayings and proverbs that use the word summus: as you can see, summus can refer to something lofty to pursue, but it can also be a source of risk and peril, too.
Ad summa nitamur.
Altius ibunt qui ad summa nituntur.
Feriunt summos fulmina montes.
Gravius summo culmine missa ruunt.
Invidia, tamquam ignis, summa petit.
Livor summa petit; perflant altissima venti.
Magna repente ruunt; summa cadunt subito.
Ius summum saepe summa est malitia.
Ni gradus servetur, nulli tutus est summus locus.
Tum summa est in silvis fames, dum lupus lupum vorat.
Imum nolo; summum nequeo; quiesco.
Omnia summa nocent, sed moderata iuvant.
Summum cape et medium tenebis.
Doceri velle summa est eruditio.
In omni morbo tranquillitas animi summa est medicina.
Saepe summa ingenia in occulto latent.
Nemo repente fit summus, nemo repente fit pessimus.
Quicquid futurum est summum, ab imo nascitur.
Saepe etiam sub palliolo sordido latet summa sapientia.
Deus est summum bonum.
Nec summus cunctis Iuppiter ipse placet.
Laudatur nummus, quasi rex super omnia summus.
Non datum est summis imperiis stare diu.
Male imperando summum imperium amittitur.
Nemo timendo ad summum pervenit locum.
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