Chapter 1671

Su`per*flu"i*ty (?) , n. ; pl. Superfluities (#) . [L. superfluit\'82 , L. superfluitas . See Superfluous .] 1. A greater quantity than is wanted; superabundance; as, a superfluity of water; a superfluity of wealth.

A quiet mediocrity is still to be preferred before a troubled superfluity . Suckling.

2. The state or quality of being superfluous; excess. "By a superfluity abominable."

Chaucer.

3. Something beyond what is needed; something which serves for show or luxury.

Syn. -- Superabundance; excess; redundancy.

Superfluous <Xpage=1447>

Su*per"flu*ous (?) , a. [L. superfluus overflowing; super over, above + fluere to flow. See Super- , and Fluent .] More than is wanted or is sufficient; rendered unnecessary by superabundance; unnecessary; useless; excessive; as, a superfluous price .

Shak.

An authority which makes all further argument or illustration superfluous . E. Everett.

Superfluous interval (Mus.) , an interval that exceeds a major or perfect interval by a semitone.

Syn. -- Unnecessary; useless; exuberant; excessive; redundant; needless.

-- Su*per"flu*ous*ly , adv. -- Su*per"flu*ous*ness , n.

Superflux <Xpage=1447>

Su"per*flux (?) , n. Superabundance; superfluity; an overflowing. [R.]

Shak.

Superf\'d2tation <Xpage=1447>

Su`per*f\'d2*ta"tion (?) , n. Superfetation.

Superfoliation <Xpage=1447>

Su`per*fo`li*a"tion (?) , n. Excess of foliation.

Sir T. Browne.

Superfrontal <Xpage=1447>

Su`per*fron"tal (?) , n. (Eccl.) A cloth which is placed over the top of an altar, and often hangs down a few inches over the frontal.

Superfuse <Xpage=1447>

Su`per*fuse" (?) , a. To pour (something) over or on something else. [Obs.]

Evelyn.

Superheat <Xpage=1447>

Su`per*heat" (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Superheated ; p. pr. & vb. n. Superheating .] 1. To heat too much, to overheat; as, to superheat an oven .

2. (Steam Engine) To heat, as steam, apart from contact with water, until it resembles a perfect gas.

Superheat <Xpage=1447>

Su"per*heat` , n. The increase of temperature communicated to steam by superheating it.

<-- superheated. heated to a temperature above the boiling point at the ambient pressure; -- said of liquids. In such an unstable condition, a small disturbance of the liquid can cause a rapid and sometimes violent ebullition of vapor. -->

Superheater <Xpage=1447>

Su"per*heat`er (?) , n. (Steam Engine) An apparatus for superheating steam.

Superhive <Xpage=1447>

Su"per*hive` (?) , n. A removable upper part of a hive. The word is sometimes contracted to super .

Superhuman <Xpage=1447>

Su`per*hu"man (?) , a. Above or beyond what is human; sometimes, divine; as, superhuman strength; superhuman wisdom .

Superimpose <Xpage=1447>

Su`per*im*pose" (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Superimposed (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Superimposing .] To lay or impose on something else; as, a stratum of earth superimposed on another stratum . -- Su`per*im`po*si"tion (#) , n.

Superinpregnation <Xpage=1447>

Su`per*in`preg*na"tion (?) , n. The act of impregnating, or the state of being impregnated, in addition to a prior impregnation; superfetation.

Superincumbence, Superincumbency <Xpage=1447>

Su`per*in*cum"bence (?) , Su`per*in*cum"ben*cy (?) , n. The quality or state of being superincumbent.

Superincumbent <Xpage=1447>

Su`per*in*cum"bent (?) , a. [L. superincumbens , p.pr. of superincumbere . See Super- , and Incumbent .] Lying or resting on something else.

Superinduce <Xpage=1447>

Su`per*in*duce" (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Superinduced (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Superinducing (?) .] [Pref. super- + induce : cf. L. superinducere to draw over.] To bring in, or upon, as an addition to something.

Long custom of sinning superinduces upon the soul new and absurd desires. South.

Superinducement <Xpage=1447>

Su`per*in*duce"ment (?) , n. Superinduction.

Superinduction <Xpage=1447>

Su`per*in*duc"tion (?) , n. The act of superinducing, or the state of being superinduced.

South.

Superinfuse <Xpage=1447>

Su`per*in*fuse" (?) , v. t. [Pref. super- + infuse : cf. L. superinfundere , superinfusum , to pour over.] To infuse over. [R.]

Superinjection <Xpage=1447>

Su`per*in*jec"tion (?) , n. An injection succeeding another.

Superinspect <Xpage=1447>

Su`per*in*spect" (?) , v. t. [Pref. super- + inspect : cf. L. superinspicere , superinspectum .] To over see; to superintend by inspection. [R.]

Maydman.

Superinstitution <Xpage=1447>

Su`per*in`sti*tu"tion (?) , n. One institution upon another, as when A is instituted and admitted to a benefice upon a title, and B instituted and admitted upon the presentation of another.

Bailey.

Superintellectual <Xpage=1447>

Su`per*in`tel*lec"tu*al (?) , a. Being above intellect.

Superintend <Xpage=1447>

Su`per*in*tend" (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Superintended ; p. pr. & vb. n. Superintending .] [L. superintendere . See Super- , and Intend .] To have or exercise the charge and oversight of; to oversee with the power of direction; to take care of with authority; to supervise; as, an officer superintends the building of a ship or the construction of a fort .

The king may appoint a council, who may superintend the works of this nature. Bacon.

Syn. -- Superintend , Supervise . These words in general use are the synonymous. As sometimes used, supervise implies the more general, and superintend , the more particular and constant, inspection or direction. Among architects there is a disposition to use the word supervise in the sense of a general oversight of the main points of construction with reference to the design, etc., and to employ the word superintend to signify a constant, careful attention to all the details of construction. But this technical distinction is not firmly established.

Superintendence <Xpage=1447>

Su`per*in*tend"ence (?) , n. [Cf. F. superintendance .] The act of superintending; care and oversight for the purpose of direction; supervision.

Barrow.

Syn. -- Inspection; oversight; care; direction; control; guidance.

Superintendency <Xpage=1447>

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

Boyle.

Superintendent <Xpage=1447>

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

Superintendent <Xpage=1447>

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.

Superintender <Xpage=1447>

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

Superinvestiture <Xpage=1447>

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

Bp. Horne.

Superior <Xpage=1447>

Su*pe"ri*or (?) , a. [L., compar. of superus being above, fr. super above, over: cf. F. sup\'82rieur . 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 x 2 + y n , 2 is a superior figure , n a superior letter . Cf. Inferior figure , under Inferior . <-- = superscripted number, letter -->

Superior <Xpage=1447>

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.

Superioress <Xpage=1447>

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

Superiority <Xpage=1447>

Su*pe`ri*or"i*ty (?) , n. [Cf. F. sup\'82riorit\'82 , LL. superioritas .] The quality, state, or condition of being superior; as, superiority of rank; superiority in merit.

Syn. -- Pre\'89minence; excellence; predominancy; prevalence; ascendency; odds; advantage.

Superiorly <Xpage=1447>

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

Superjacent <Xpage=1447>

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

Superlation <Xpage=1447>

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

B. Jonson.

Superlative <Xpage=1447>

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, high est , most pleasant, least bright .

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

Superlative <Xpage=1447>

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 . <-- #sic. there is no definition (b)! -->

Absolute superlative , a superlative in an absolute rather than in a comparative or exclusive sense. See Elative .

Superlucration <Xpage=1447>

Su`per*lu*cra"tion (?) , n. [Pref. super- + L. lucratio gain.] Excessive or extraordinary gain. [Obs.]

Davenant.

Superlunar, Superlunary <Xpage=1447>

Su`per*lu"nar (?) , Su`per*lu"na*ry (?) , a. Being above the moon; not belonging to this world; -- opposed to sublunary .

The head that turns at superlunar things. Pope.

Supermaterial <Xpage=1447>

Su`per*ma*te"ri*al (?) , a. Being above, or superior to, matter.

Supermaxilla <Xpage=1447>

Su`per*max*il"la (?) , n. [NL. See Super- , and Maxilla .] (Anat.) The supermaxilla.

Supermaxillary <Xpage=1447>

Su`per*max"il*la*ry (?) , a. (Anat.) Supermaxillary.

Supermedial <Xpage=1447>

Su`per*me"di*al (?) , a. Above the middle.

Supermundane <Xpage=1447>

Su`per*mun"dane (?) , a. Being above the world; -- opposed to inframundane .

Cudworth.

Supermundial <Xpage=1447>

Su`per*mun"di*al (?) , a. Supermundane. [Obs.]

Supernacular <Xpage=1447>

Su`per*nac"u*lar (?) , a. Like supernaculum; first-rate; as, a supernacular wine . [R.]

Thackeray.

Supernaculum <Xpage=1447>

Su`per*nac"u*lum (?) , adv. & n. [NL., from L. super over + G. nagel , a nail, as of the finger, or a corruption of L. super and ungulam claw.] 1. A kind of mock Latin term intended to mean, upon the nail; -- used formerly by topers.

Nares.

Drinking super nagulum [ supernaculum ], a device of drinking, new come out of France, which is, after a man hath turned up the bottom of the cup, to drop it on his nail and make a pearl with that is left; which if it slide, and he can not make it stand on by reason there is too much, he must drink again for his penance. Nash.

2. Good liquor, of which not enough is left to wet one's nail.

Grose.

Supernal <Xpage=1447>

Su*per"nal (?) , a. [L. supernus , from super above: cf. F. supernel . See Super- .] 1. Being in a higher place or region; locally higher; as, the supernal orbs; supernal regions . "That supernal judge."

Shak.

2. Relating or belonging to things above; celestial; heavenly; as, supernal grace .

Not by the sufferance of supernal power. Milton.

Supernatant <Xpage=1447>

Su`per*na"tant (?) , a. [L. supernatanus , p.pr. of supernatare to swim above; super above + natare to swim.] Swimming above; floating on the surface; as, oil supernatant on water .

<-- Supernatant <Xpage=1447>

Su`per*na"tant (?) , n. (Chem.) The liquid remaining after solids suspended in a liquid have been sedimented by gravity or by centrifugation. Contrasted with the solid sediment , or (in centrifugation) the pellet. -->

Supernatation <Xpage=1447>

Su`per*na*ta"tion (?) , n. The act of floating on the surface of a fluid.

Sir T. Browne.

Supernatural <Xpage=1447>

Su`per*nat"u*ral (?) , a. [Pref. super- + natural : cf. OF. supernaturel , F. surnaturel .] Being beyond, or exceeding, the power or laws of nature; miraculous.

Syn. -- Preternatural. -- Supernatural , Preternatural . Preternatural signifies beside nature, and supernatural , above or beyond nature. What is very greatly aside from the ordinary course of things is preternatural ; what is above or beyond the established laws of the universe is supernatural . The dark day which terrified all Europe nearly a century ago was preternatural ; the resurrection of the dead is supernatural . "That form which the earth is under at present is preternatural , like a statue made and broken again." T. Burnet . "Cures wrought by medicines are natural operations; but the miraculous ones wrought by Christ and his apostles were supernatural ." Boyle .

That is supernatural , whether it be, that is either not in the chain of natural cause and effect, or which acts on the chain of cause and effect in nature, from without the chain. Bushnell.

We must not view creation as supernatural , but we do look upon it as miraculous. McCosh.

The supernatural , whatever is above and beyond the scope, or the established course, of the laws of nature. "Nature and the supernatural ." H. Bushnell.

Supernaturalism <Xpage=1447>

Su`per*nat"u*ral*ism (?) , n. 1. The quality or state of being supernatural; supernaturalness.

2. (Theol.) The doctrine of a divine and supernatural agency in the production of the miracles and revelations recorded in the Bible, and in the grace which renews and sanctifies men, -- in opposition to the doctrine which denies the agency of any other than physical or natural causes in the case. [Written also supranaturalism .]

Supernaturalist <Xpage=1447>

Su`per*nat"u*ral*ist , n. One who holds to the principles of supernaturalism.

Supernaturalistic <Xpage=1447>

Su`per*nat`u*ral*is"tic (?) , a. Of or pertaining to supernaturalism.

Supernaturality <Xpage=1447>

Su`per*nat`u*ral"i*ty (?) , n. The quality or state of being supernatural.

Supernaturalize <Xpage=1447>

Su`per*nat"u*ral*ize (?) , v. t. To treat or regard as supernatural.

Supernaturally <Xpage=1447>

Su`per*nat"u*ral*ly , adv. In a supernatural manner.

Supernaturalness <Xpage=1447>

Su`per*nat"u*ral*ness , n. The quality or state of being supernatural.

Supernumerary <Xpage=1447>

Su`per*nu"mer*a*ry (?) , a. [L. supernumerarius : cf. OF. supernum\'82raire , F. surnum\'82raire . See Super- , and Numerary , Number .] 1. Exceeding the number stated or prescribed; as, a supernumerary officer in a regiment .

2. Exceeding a necessary, usual, or required number or quality; superfluous; as, supernumerary addresses; supernumerary expense .

Addison.

Supernumerary <Xpage=1447>

Su`per*nu"mer*a*ry , n. ; pl. Supernumeraries (<?/) . 1. A person or thing beyond the number stated.

2. A person or thing beyond what is necessary or usual; especially, a person employed not for regular service, but only to fill the place of another in case of need; specifically, in theaters, a person who is not a regular actor, but is employed to appear in a stage spectacle.

Superoccipital <Xpage=1447>

Su`per*oc*cip"i*tal (?) , a. Supraoccipital.

Superorder <Xpage=1447>

Su`per*or"der (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) A group intermediate in importance between an order and a subclass.

Superordination <Xpage=1447>