The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary: Section S

Chapter 120

Chapter 1203,966 wordsPublic domain

Sun"bird` (?), n. (Zoöl.) (a) Any one of numerous species of small brilliantly colored birds of the family Nectariniidæ, native of Africa, Southern Asia, the East Indies, and Australia. In external appearance and habits they somewhat resemble humming birds, but they are true singing birds (Oscines). (b) The sun bittern.

Sun"blink` (?), n. A glimpse or flash of the sun. [Scot.] Sir W. Scott.

Sun"bon"net (?), n. A bonnet, generally made of some thin or light fabric, projecting beyond the face, and commonly having a cape, -- worn by women as a protection against the sun.

Sun"bow` (?), n. A rainbow; an iris. Byron.

Sun"burn` (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sunburned (?) or Sunburnt (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Sunburning.] To burn or discolor by the sun; to tan.

Sunburnt and swarthy though she be.

Dryden.

Sun"burn`, n. The burning or discoloration produced on the skin by the heat of the sun; tan.

Sun"-burn`er (?), n. A circle or cluster of gas-burners for lighting and ventilating public buildings.

Sun"burn`ing, n. Sunburn; tan. Boyle.

Sun"burst` (?), n. A burst of sunlight.

Sun"dart` (?), n. Sunbeam. [R.] Mrs. Hemans.

Sun"day (?), n. [AS. sunnandæg; sunne, gen. sunnan, the sun + dæg day; akin to D. zondag, G. sonntag; -- so called because this day was anciently dedicated to the sun, or to its worship. See Sun, and Day.] The first day of the week, -- consecrated among Christians to rest from secular employments, and to religious worship; the Christian Sabbath; the Lord's Day.

Advent Sunday, Low Sunday, Passion Sunday, etc. See under Advent, Low, etc.

Syn. -- See Sabbath.

Sun"day, a. Belonging to the Christian Sabbath.

Sunday letter. See Dominical letter, under Dominical. -- Sunday school. See under School.

Sun"der (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sundered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Sundering.] [OE. sundren, AS. sundrain (in sundrain, gesundrain), from sundor asunder, separately, apart; akin to D. zonder, prep., without, G. sonder separate, as prep., without, sondern but, OHG. suntar separately, Icel. sundr asunder, Sw. & Dan. sönder, Goth. sundr alone, separately.] To disunite in almost any manner, either by rending, cutting, or breaking; to part; to put or keep apart; to separate; to divide; to sever; as, to sunder a rope; to sunder a limb; to sunder friends.

It is sundered from the main land by a sandy plain.

Carew.

Sun"der, v. i. To part; to separate. [R.] Shak.

Sun"der, n. [See Sunder, v. t., and cf. Asunder.] A separation into parts; a division or severance.

In sunder, into parts. "He breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder." Ps. xlvi. 9.

Sun"der, v. t. To expose to the sun and wind. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

Sun"dew` (?), n. (Bot.) Any plant of the genus Drosera, low bog plants whose leaves are beset with pediceled glands which secrete a viscid fluid that glitters like dewdrops and attracts and detains insects. After an insect is caught, the glands curve inward like tentacles and the leaf digests it. Called also lustwort.

Sun"di`al (?), n. An instrument to show the time of day by means of the shadow of a gnomon, or style, on a plate.

Sundial shell (Zoöl.), any shell of the genus Solarium. See Solarium.

Sun"dog` (?), n. (Meteorol.) A luminous spot occasionally seen a few degrees from the sun, supposed to be formed by the intersection of two or more halos, or in a manner similar to that of halos.

Sun"down` (?), n. 1. The setting of the sun; sunset. "When sundown skirts the moor." Tennyson.

2. A kind of broad-brimmed sun hat worn by women.

Sun"-dried` (?), a. Dried by the heat of the sun. "Sun-dried brick." Sir T. Herbert.

Sun"dries (?), n. pl. Many different or small things; sundry things.

Sun"dri*ly (?), adv. In sundry ways; variously.

Sun"dry (?), a. [OE. sundry, sondry, AS. syndrig, fr. sundor asunder. See Sunder, v. t.] 1. Several; divers; more than one or two; various. "Sundry wines." Chaucer. "Sundry weighty reasons." Shak.

With many a sound of sundry melody.

Chaucer.

Sundry foes the rural realm surround.

Dryden.

2. Separate; diverse. [Obs.]

Every church almost had the Bible of a sundry translation.

Coleridge.

All and sundry, all collectively, and each separately.

Sun"dry*man (?), n.; pl. Sundrymen (&?;). One who deals in sundries, or a variety of articles.

Sun"fish` (?), n. (Zoöl.) (a) A very large oceanic plectognath fish (Mola mola, Mola rotunda, or Orthagoriscus mola) having a broad body and a truncated tail. (b) Any one of numerous species of perch-like North American fresh- water fishes of the family Centrachidæ. They have a broad, compressed body, and strong dorsal spines. Among the common species of the Eastern United States are Lepomis gibbosus (called also bream, pondfish, pumpkin seed, and sunny), the blue sunfish, or dollardee (L. pallidus), and the long-eared sunfish (L. auritus). Several of the species are called also pondfish. (c) The moonfish, or bluntnosed shiner. (d) The opah. (e) The basking, or liver, shark. (f) Any large jellyfish.

Sun"flow`er (?), n. Any plant of the genus Helianthus; -- so called probably from the form and color of its flower, which is large disk with yellow rays. The commonly cultivated sunflower is Helianthus annuus, a native of America.

Sung (?), imp. & p. p. of Sing.

Sun"glass` (?), n.; pl. Sunglasses (&?;). A convex lens of glass for producing heat by converging the sun's rays into a focus. "Lighting a cigar with a sunglass." Hawthorne.

Sun"glow` (?), n. A rosy flush in the sky seen after sunset.

Sunk (?), imp. & p. p. of Sink.

Sunk fence, a ditch with a retaining wall, used to divide lands without defacing a landscape; a ha-ha.

Sunk"en (?), a. Lying on the bottom of a river or other water; sunk.

Sun"less (?), a. Destitute or deprived of the sun or its rays; shaded; shadowed.

The sunken glen whose sunless shrubs must weep.

Byron.

Sun"light` (?), n. The light of the sun. Milton.

Sun"like` (?), a. Like or resembling the sun. "A spot of sunlike brilliancy." Tyndall.

Sun"lit` (?), a. Lighted by the sun.

Sunn (?), n. [Hind. san, fr. Skr. çana.] (Bot.) An East Indian leguminous plant (Crotalaria juncea) and its fiber, which is also called sunn hemp. [Written also sun.]

||Sun"na (?), n. [Ar. sunnah rule, law.] A collection of traditions ||received by the orthodox Mohammedans as of equal authority with the ||Koran.

Sun"ni*ah (?), n. One of the sect of Sunnites.

Sun"ni*ness (?), n. The quality or state of being sunny.

Sun"nite (?), n. One of the orthodox Mohammedans who receive the Sunna as of equal importance with the Koran.

Sun"nud (?), n. [Hind., fr. Ar. sanad.] A charter or warrant; also, a deed of gift. [India]

Sun"ny (?), a. [Compar. Sunnier (?); superl. Sunniest.] 1. Of or pertaining to the sun; proceeding from, or resembling the sun; hence, shining; bright; brilliant; radiant. "Sunny beams." Spenser. "Sunny locks." Shak.

2. Exposed to the rays of the sun; brightened or warmed by the direct rays of the sun; as, a sunny room; the sunny side of a hill.

Her blooming mountains and her sunny shores.

Addison.

3. Cheerful; genial; as, a sunny disposition.

My decayed fair A sunny look of his would soon repair.

Shak.

Sun"ny, n. (Zoöl.) See Sunfish (b).

Sun"proof` (?), a. Impervious to the rays of the sun. "Darksome yew, sunproof." Marston.

{ Sun"rise` (?), Sun"ris`ing, } n. 1. The first appearance of the sun above the horizon in the morning; more generally, the time of such appearance, whether in fair or cloudy weather; as, to begin work at sunrise. "The tide of sunrise swells." Keble.

2. Hence, the region where the sun rises; the east.

Which were beyond Jordan toward the sunrising.

Deut. iv. 47 (Rev. Ver.)

Full hot and fast the Saxon rides, with rein of travel slack, And, bending o'ev his saddle, leaves the sunrise at his back.

Whittier.

{ Sun"set" (?), Sun"set`ting, } n. 1. The descent of the sun below the horizon; also, the time when the sun sets; evening. Also used figuratively.

'T is the sunset of life gives me mystical lore.

Campbell.

2. Hence, the region where the sun sets; the west.

Sunset shell (Zoöl.), a West Indian marine bivalve (Tellina radiata) having a smooth shell marked with radiating bands of varied colors resembling those seen at sunset or before sunrise; -- called also rising sun.

Sun"shade` (?), n. Anything used as a protection from the sun's rays. Specifically: (a) A small parasol. (b) An awning.

Sun"shine` (?), n. 1. The light of the sun, or the place where it shines; the direct rays of the sun, the place where they fall, or the warmth and light which they give.

But all sunshine, as when his beams at noon Culminate from the equator.

Milton.

2. Anything which has a warming and cheering influence like that of the rays of the sun; warmth; illumination; brightness.

That man that sits within a monarch's heart, And ripens in the sunshine of his favor.

Shak.

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Sun"shine` (?), a. Sunshiny; bright. Shak. "Sunshine hours." Keble.

Sun"shin`y (?), a. 1. Bright with the rays of the sun; clear, warm, or pleasant; as, a sunshiny day.

2. Bright like the sun; resplendent.

Flashing beams of that sunshiny shield.

Spenser.

3. Beaming with good spirits; cheerful. "Her sunshiny face." Spenser.

Sun"squall` (?), n. (Zoöl.) Any large jellyfish.

Sun" star` (?). (Zoöl.) See Sun star, under Sun.

Sun"sted (?), n. [Sun + stead a place.] Solstice. [Obs.] "The summer sunsted." Holland.

Sun"stone` (?), n. (Med.) Aventurine feldspar. See under Aventurine.

Sun"stroke` (?), n. (Med.) Any affection produced by the action of the sun on some part of the body; especially, a sudden prostration of the physical powers, with symptoms resembling those of apoplexy, occasioned by exposure to excessive heat, and often terminating fatally; coup de soleil.

Sun"-struck` (?), a. (Med.) Overcome by, or affected with, sunstroke; as, sun-struck soldiers.

Sun"up` (?), n. Sunrise. [Local, U.S.]

Such a horse as that might get over a good deal of ground atwixt sunup and sundown.

Cooper.

Sun"ward (?), adv. Toward the sun.

Sun"wise` (?), adv. In the direction of the sun's apparent motion, or from the east southward and westward, and so around the circle; also, in the same direction as the movement of the hands of a watch lying face upward.

Sup (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Supped (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Supping.] [OE. soupen to drink, AS. s&?;pan; akin to D. zuipen, G. saufen, OHG. s&?;fan, Icel. s&?;pa, Sw. supa, Dan. söbe. Cf. Sip, Sop, Soup, Supper.] To take into the mouth with the lips, as a liquid; to take or drink by a little at a time; to sip.

There I'll sup Balm and nectar in my cup.

Crashaw.

Sup, n. A small mouthful, as of liquor or broth; a little taken with the lips; a sip.

Tom Thumb had got a little sup.

Drayton.

Sup, v. i. [See Supper.] To eat the evening meal; to take supper.

I do entreat that we may sup together.

&?;

Sup, v. t. To treat with supper. [Obs.]

Sup them well and look unto them all.

Shak.

Su*pawn" (?), n. [Of American Indian origin.] Boiled Indian meal; hasty pudding; mush. [Written also sepawn, sepon, and suppawn.] [Local, U.S.]

Supe (?), n. A super. [Theatrical Cant]

Su"per- (?). [L. super over, above; akin to Gr. &?;, L. sub under, and E. over. See Over, and cf. Hyper-, Sub-, Supra-, Sur-.] 1. A prefix signifying above, over, beyond, and hence often denoting in a superior position, in excess, over and above, in addition, exceedingly; as in superimpose, supersede, supernatural, superabundance.

2. (Chem.) A prefix formerly much used to denote that the ingredient to the name of which it was prefixed was present in a large, or unusually large, proportion as compared with the other ingredients; as in calcium superphosphate. It has been superseded by per-, bi- , di-, acid, etc. (as peroxide, bicarbonate, disulphide, and acid sulphate), which retain the old meanings of super-, but with sharper definition. Cf. Acid, a., Bi-, Di- , and Per-.

Su"per, n. A contraction of Supernumerary, in sense 2. [Theatrical Cant]

Su"per*a*ble (?), a. [L. superabilis, from superare to go over, to surmount, fr. super above, over.] Capable of being overcome or conquered; surmountable.

Antipathies are generally superable by a single effort.

Johnson.

-- Su"per*a*ble*ness, n. -- Su"per*a*bly, adv.

Su`per*a*bound" (?), v. i. [L. superabundare: cf. OF. superabonder. See Super-, and Abound.] To be very abundant or exuberant; to be more than sufficient; as, the country superabounds with corn.

Su`per*a*bun"dance (?), n. [L. superabundantia: cf. OF. superabondance.] The quality or state of being superabundant; a superabundant quantity; redundancy; excess.

Su`per*a*bun"dant (?), a. [L. superabundans, p. pr. of superabundare. See Superabound.] Abounding to excess; being more than is sufficient; redundant; as, superabundant zeal. -- Su`per*a*bun"dant*ly, adv.

Su`per*a*cid"u*la`ted (?), a. Acidulated to excess. [R.]

Su`per*add" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Superadded; p. pr. & vb. n. Superadding.] [L. superaddere. See Super-, and Add.] To add over and above; to add to what has been added; to annex, as something extrinsic.

The strength of any living creature, in those external motion, is something distinct from, and superadded unto, its natural gravity.

Bp. Wilkins.

The peacock laid it extremely to heart that he had not the nightingale's voice superadded to the beauty of his plumes.

L'Estrange.

Su`per*ad*di"tion (?), n. The act of adding something in excess or something extraneous; also, something which is added in excess or extraneously.

This superaddition is nothing but fat.

Arbuthnot.

Su`per*ad*ven"ient (?), a. Coming upon; coming in addition to, or in assistance of, something. [R.]

He has done bravely by the superadvenient assistance of his God.

Dr. H. More.

Su`per*al`i*men*ta"tion (?), n. The act of overfeeding, or making one take food in excess of the natural appetite for it.

Su"per*al`tar (?), n. (Arch.) A raised shelf or stand on the back of an altar, on which different objects can be placed; a predella or gradino.

Su`per*an*gel"ic (?), a. Superior to the angels in nature or rank. [R.] Milman.

Su`per*an"nu*ate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Superannuated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Superannuating.] [Pref. super- + L. annus a year.] 1. To impair or disquality on account of age or infirmity. Sir T. Browne.

2. To give a pension to, on account of old age or other infirmity; to cause to retire from service on a pension.

Su`per*an"nu*ate (?), v. i. To last beyond the year; -- said of annual plants. [Obs.] Bacon.

Su`per*an`nu*a"tion (?), n. The state of being superannuated, or too old for office or business; the state of being disqualified by old age; decrepitude.

The world itself is in a state of superannuation.

Cowper.

Slyness blinking through the watery eye of superannuation.

Coleridge.

Su*perb" (?), a. [F. superbe, L. superbus, fr. super over. See Super-.] 1. Grand; magnificent; august; stately; as, a superb edifice; a superb colonnade.

2. Rich; elegant; as, superb furniture or decorations.

3. Showy; excellent; grand; as, a superb exhibition.

Superb paradise bird (Zoöl.), a bird of paradise (Paradisæa, or Lophorina, superba) having the scapulars erectile, and forming a large ornamental tuft on each shoulder, and a large gorget of brilliant feathers on the breast. The color is deep violet, or nearly black, with brilliant green reflections. The gorget is bright metallic green. -- Superb warber. (Zoöl.) See Blue wren, under Wren.

-- Su*perb"ly, adv. -- Su*perb"ness, n.

Su*per"bi*ate (?), v. t. [Cf. L. superbiare.] To make (a person) haughty. [Obs. & R.] Feltham.

Su`per*car"bon*ate (?), n. (Chem.) A bicarbonate. [Obsoles.]

Su`per*car"bu*ret`ed (?), a. (Chem.) Bicarbureted. [Written also supercarburetted.] [Obsoles.]

Su`per*car"go (?), n. [Super- + cargo: cf. Sp. sobrecargo. Cf. Surcharge.] An officer or person in a merchant ship, whose duty is to manage the sales, and superintend the commercial concerns, of the voyage.

Su`per*car"pal (?), a. (Anat.) Situated above, or in the upper part of, the carpus.

Su`per*ce*les"tial (?), a. [Pref. super- + celestial: cf. L. supercaelestis.] 1. Situated above the firmament, or great vault of heaven. Waterland.

2. Higher than celestial; superangelic.

Su`per*charge" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Supercharged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Supercharging (?).] [Pref. super- + charge. Cf. Surcharge.] (Her.) To charge (a bearing) upon another bearing; as, to supercharge a rose upon a fess.

Su`per*charge" (?), n. (Her.) A bearing charged upon another bearing. [R.]

Su`per*chem"ic*al (?), a. Above or beyond chemistry; inexplicable by chemical laws. J. Le Conte.

Su*perch"er*y (?), n. [F. supercherie.] Deceit; fraud; imposition. [Obs. & R.]

Su`per*cil"i*a*ry (?), a. [L. supercilium an eyebrow. See Supercilious.] 1. Of or pertaining to the eyebrows; supraorbital.

2. (Zoöl.) Having a distinct streak of color above the eyes; as, the superciliary woodpecker.

Su`per*cil"i*ous (?), a. [L. superciliosus, fr. supercilium an eyebrow, pride; super over, + cilium an eyelid; probably akin to celare to conceal. Cf. Conceal.] Lofty with pride; haughty; dictatorial; overbearing; arrogant; as, a supercilious officer; asupercilious air; supercilious behavior. -- Su`per*cil"i*ous*ly, adv. -- Su`per*cil"i*ous*ness, n.

||Su`per*cil"i*um (?), n. [L.] (Zoöl.) The eyebrow, or the region of ||the eyebrows.

Su`per*co*lum`ni*a"tion (?), n. (Arch.) The putting of one order above another; also, an architectural work produced by this method; as, the putting of the Doric order in the ground story, Ionic above it, and Corinthian or Composite above this.

Su`per*con*cep"tion (?), n. (Physiol.) Superfetation. [R.] Sir T. Browne.

Su`per*con"se*quence (?), n. Remote consequence. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

Su`per*cres"cence (?), n. [See Supercrescent.] That which grows upon another growing thing; a parasite. [R.] Sir T. Browne.

Su`per*cres"cent (?), a. [L. supercrescens, p. pr. of supercrescere; super above + crescere to grow.] Growing on some other growing thing. [R.] Johnson.

Su`per*cre*ta"ceous (?), a. (Geol.) Same as Supracretaceous.

Su`per*cu"ri*ous (?), a. Excessively curious or inquisitive. Evelyn.

Su`per*dom"i*nant (?), n. (Mus.) The sixth tone of the scale; that next above the dominant; -- called also submediant.

{ Su`per*em"i*nence (?), Su`per*em"i*nen*cy (?), } n. [L. supereminentia.] The quality or state of being supereminent; distinguished eminence; as, the supereminence of Cicero as an orator, or Lord Chatham as a statesman. Ayliffe.

He was not forever beset with the consciousness of his own supereminence.

Prof. Wilson.

Su`per*em"i*nent (?), a. [L. supereminens, p. pr. of supereminere. See Super-, and Eminent.] Eminent in a superior degree; surpassing others in excellence; as, a supereminent divine; the supereminent glory of Christ. -- Su`per*em"i*nent*ly, adv.

Su`per*er"o*gant (?), a. [L. supererogans, p. pr. See Supererogate.] Supererogatory. [Obs.]

Su`per*er"o*gate (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Supererogated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Supererogating.] [L. supererogatus, p. p. of supererogare to spend or pay out over and above; super over, above + erogare to expend or pay out money from the public treasury after asking the consent of the people. See Super-, and Erogate, Rogation.] To do more than duty requires; to perform works of supererogation; to atone (for a dificiency in another) by means of a surplus action or quality.

The fervency of one man in prayer can not supererogate for the coldness of another.

Milton.

Su`per*er`o*ga"tion (?), n. [L. supererogatio a payment in addition.] The act of supererogating; performance of more than duty or necessity requires.

Works of supererogation (R. C. Ch.), those good deeds believed to have been performed by saints, or capable of being performed by men, over and above what is required for their own salvation.

Su`per*e*rog"a*tive (?), a. Supererogatory.

Su`per*e*rog"a*to*ry (?), a. Performed to an extent not enjoined, or not required, by duty or necessity; as, supererogatory services. Howell.

Su`per*es*sen"tial (?), a. Essential above others, or above the constitution of a thing. J. Ellis.

Su`per*eth"ic*al (?), a. More than ethical; above ethics. Bolingbroke.

Su`per*ex*alt" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Superexalted; p. pr. & vb. n. Superexalting.] To exalt to a superior degree; to exalt above others. Barrow.

Su`per*ex`al*ta"tion (?), n. Elevation above the common degree. Holyday.

Su`per*ex"cel*lence (?), n. Superior excellence; extraordinary excellence.

Su`per*ex"cel*lent (?), a. [Pref. super- + excellent: cf. L. superexcellens.] Excellent in an uncommon degree; very excellent. Drayton.

Su`per*ex`ci*na"tion (?), n. Excessive, or more than normal, excitation.

Su`per*ex*cres"cence (?), n. Something growing superfluously.

Su"per*fam`i*ly (?), n. (Zoöl.) A group intermediate between a family and a suborder.

Su`per*fec`un*da"tion (?), n. (Physiol.) Fertilization of two ova, at the same menstruation, by two different acts of coition.

Su`per*fe*cun"di*ty (?), n. Superabundant fecundity or multiplication of the species.

Su`per*fe"tate (?), v. i. [L. superfetare; super above, over + fetare to bring forth.] To conceive after a prior conception, but before the birth of the offspring.

The female . . . is said to superfetate.

Grew.

Su`per*fe*ta"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. superfétation.] (Physiol.) The formation of a fetus at the result of an impregnation occurring after another impregnation but before the birth of the offspring produced by it. This is possible only when there is a double uterus, or where menstruation persists up to the time of the second impregnation.

In then became a superfetation upon, and not an ingredient in, the national character.

Coleridge.

Su`per*fete" (?), v. i. To superfetate. [Obs.]

Su`per*fete", v. t. To conceive (another fetus) after a former conception. [Obs.] Howell.

Su"per*fice (?), n. A superficies. [Obs.] Dryden.

Su`per*fi"cial (?), a. [L. superficialis: cf. F. superficiel. See Superficies.] 1. Of or pertaining to the superficies, or surface; lying on the surface; shallow; not deep; as, a superficial color; a superficial covering; superficial measure or contents; superficial tillage.

2. Reaching or comprehending only what is obvious or apparent; not deep or profound; shallow; -- said especially in respect to study, learning, and the like; as, a superficial scholar; superficial knowledge.

This superficial tale Is but a preface of her worthy praise.

Shak.

He is a presumptuous and superficial writer.

Burke.

That superficial judgment, which happens to be right without deserving to be so.

J. H. Newman.

-- Su`per*fi"cial*ly, adv. -- Su`per*fi"cial*ness, n.

Su`per*fi"cial*ist, n. One who attends to anything superficially; a superficial or shallow person; a sciolist; a smatterer.

Su`per*fi`ci*al"i*ty (?), n. [Cf. F. superficialité.] The quality or state of being superficial; also, that which is superficial. Sir T. Browne.

Su`per*fi"cial*ize (?), v. t. To attend to, or to treat, superficially, or in a shallow or slighting way. [R.]

It is a characteristic weakness of the day to superficialize evil.

E. P. Whipple.

Su`per*fi"ci*a*ry (?), n. (Rom. Law) One to whom a right of surface occupation is granted; one who pays quitrent for a house built upon another man's ground.

Su`per*fi"ci*a*ry, a. 1. Of or pertaining to the superficies, or surface; superficial.

2. (Rom. Law) Situated or built on another man's land, as a house.

Su`per*fi"cies (?), n. [L., fr. super above, over + facies make, figure, shape. See Surface.] 1. The surface; the exterior part, superficial area, or face of a thing.