Part 981

Su`per*in*tend"en*cy (?), n.; pl. -cies (&?;). The act of superintending; superintendence. Boyle.

Su`per*in*tend"ent (?), a. [L. superintendens, p. pr. See Superintend.] Overseeing; superintending.

Su`per*in*tend"ent (?), n. [Cf. OF. superintendant, F. surintendant. Cf. Surintendant.] One who has the oversight and charge of some place, institution, or organization, affairs, etc., with the power of direction; as, the superintendent of an almshouse; the superintendent of public works.

Syn. -- Inspector; overseer; manager; director; curator; supervisor.

Su`per*in*tend"er (?), n. A superintendent. [R.]

Su`per*in*vest"i*ture (?), n. An outer vestment or garment. [R.] Bp. Horne.

Su*pe"ri*or (?), a. [L., compar. of superus being above, fr. super above, over: cf. F. supérieur. See Super-, and cf. Supreme.] 1. More elevated in place or position; higher; upper; as, the superior limb of the sun; the superior part of an image.

2. Higher in rank or office; more exalted in dignity; as, a superior officer; a superior degree of nobility.

3. Higher or greater in excellence; surpassing others in the greatness, or value of any quality; greater in quality or degree; as, a man of superior merit; or of superior bravery.

4. Beyond the power or influence of; too great or firm to be subdued or affected by; -- with to.

There is not in earth a spectacle more worthy than a great man superior to his sufferings.

Spectator.

5. More comprehensive; as a term in classification; as, a genus is superior to a species.

6. (Bot.) (a) 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; also of an ovary when the other floral organs are plainly below it in position, and free from it. (b) Belonging to the part of an axillary flower which is toward the main stem; posterior. (c) Pointing toward the apex of the fruit; ascending; -- said of the radicle.

Superior conjunction, Superior planets, etc. See Conjunction, Planet, etc. -- Superior figure, Superior letter (Print.), a figure or letter printed above the line, as a reference to a note or an index of a power, etc; as, in x2 + yn, 2 is a superior figure, n a superior letter. Cf. Inferior figure, under Inferior.

Su*pe"ri*or, n. 1. One who is above, or surpasses, another in rank, station, office, age, ability, or merit; one who surpasses in what is desirable; as, Addison has no superior as a writer of pure English.

2. (Eccl.) The head of a monastery, convent, abbey, or the like.

Su*pe"ri*or*ess, n. (Eccl.) A woman who acts as chief in a convent, abbey, or nunnery; a lady superior.

Su*pe`ri*or"i*ty (?), n. [Cf. F. supériorité, LL. superioritas.] The quality, state, or condition of being superior; as, superiority of rank; superiority in merit.

Syn. -- Preëminence; excellence; predominancy; prevalence; ascendency; odds; advantage.

Su*pe"ri*or*ly (?), adv. In a superior position or manner.

Su`per*ja"cent (?), a. [L. superjacens, p. pr. of superjacere; super above + jacere to lie.] Situated immediately above; as, superjacent rocks.

Su`per*la"tion (?), n. [L. superlatio. See Superlative.] Exaltation of anything beyond truth or propriety. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

Su`per*la"tive (?), a. [L. superlativus, fr. superlatus excessive, used as p. p. of superiorferre, but from a different root: cf. F. superlatif. See Elate, Tolerate.] 1. Lifted up to the highest degree; most eminent; surpassing all other; supreme; as, superlative wisdom or prudence; a woman of superlative beauty; the superlative glory of the divine character.

2. (Gram.) Expressing the highest or lowest degree of the quality, manner, etc., denoted by an adjective or an adverb. The superlative degree is formed from the positive by the use of -est, most, or least; as, highest, most pleasant, least bright.

-- Su`per*la"tive*ly, adv. -- Su`per*la"tive*ness, n.

Su`per*la"tive, n. 1. That which is highest or most eminent; the utmost degree.

2. (Gram.) (a) The superlative degree of adjectives and adverbs; also, a form or word by which the superlative degree is expressed; as, strongest, wisest, most stormy, least windy, are all superlatives.