super- 
lurf, etc., or (6) the meaning; 'over, above, heyond' In 
iMumiiT, 'li-^rer, uifM.siire, or the like, as In ruperexcellcnt, 
mperfne,e{v. It i 11 i- MI Kmilixh formative, espe- 
cially in tivlinir:il n*f. In chi-niistry it IK usei! similarly 
to per-. In /<ml<.j;y anil anatomy it la used likr / 
sometimes like epi-, In the opposite, nf *'/-, suhter-, ml 
AI//W-, and is the same as supra-. The murt-' recent ami 
technical compounds of mprr- which follow arc left with- 
out further etymology. 
super (si'i'per), n. [Al)br. of the words indi- 
r.iinl in tlieilet'mitions.] 1 . A supernumerary ; 
specifically, a supernumerary actor. 
My father was a man of extraordinary Irritability, partly 
natural, partly induced liy having to deal with Meg pre- 
i i naturally stupid nrople as the lowest class of actors, 
the xuperx, are found to be. 
Vat''*, Fifty Years of London Life, I. II. 
2. A superhive. See bar super, under bar 1 . 
3. A Hiiperintendent. [Colloq. in all uses.] 
superable (su'per-a-bl), a. [< L. KitiH-rtiliilix. 
that may be surmounted, < superare, go over, 
rise above, surmount, < miper, ovor: see super-.} 
Capable of being overcome or conquered ; sur- 
mountable. 
Antipathies arc generally Kujxrable by a single effort. 
Juhumn, Rambler, No. 12(1. 
superableness (su'per-n-bl-nes), it. The qual- 
ity of being superable or surmountable. Bui If//. 
superably (su per-a-bli), adv. So as to bo nii- 
porable. 
superabound (Bft'ptof.boiOid'), /. i. [= F. 
xurtilMindir = Pr. sobrondur = Sp. sobreabunilar 
= Pg. Kobreabundar, superabundar = It. soprab- 
/Miiii/iii-i', < \j\i. xiifii riilniiiilin-c, superabound, < 
L. super, above, + abundare, overflow, abound : 
see abound.] To abound above or beyond mea- 
sure ; be very abundant or exuberant ; be more 
than sufficient. 
In those cities where the gospel hath abounded, sin 
hath superabounded. Rev. T. Adams, Works, II. 271. 
God has filled the world with beauty to overflowing 
mperabnuiulinff beauty. J. F. Clarke, Self-Culture, p. 183. 
superabundance (su'per-a-bun'dans), w. [= 
F. sitrtilHindanec = Pr. sobrehabondatwa = Sp. 
sobreabiindatifia = It. soprabbondan:a, < LL. 
niipernbunilaiitia, superabundance, < L. super- 
<ilntndan(t-)s, superabundant: see superabun- 
dant.] The state of being superabundant, or 
more than enough ; excessive abundance ; ex- 
cess. 
Many things are found to be monstrous & prodigious in 
Nature ; the effects whereof dluers attribute . . . either 
to defect or super-aboundance in Nature. 
lli iiiii,,,i/. Hierarchy of Angels, p. 462. 
superabundant (su'per-a-bun'dant), a. [= F. 
suraboudant = Sp. sobretibundanlc = Pg. sobrea- 
bundante, superabundante = It. soprabbondante, 
< L. superabundances, ppr. of superabundare, 
superabound: see superabound.'} Abounding to 
excess; being more than is sufficient; redun- 
dant. 
God gives not onely corne for need, 
But likewise sup'ratnindant seed. 
Herrielf, To God. 
superabundantly (su'per-a-bun'dant-li), adv. 
In a superabundant manner; more than suffi- 
ciently; redundantly. 
Nothing but the uncreated Infinite can adequately fill 
and superabundantly satisfy the desire. Cheyne. 
snperacidulated (su*per-a-sid'u-la-ted), n. 
Acidulated to excess. 
superacromial (su'per-a-kro'mi-al), a. Situ- 
ated upon or above the acromion. Also supra- 
acromiiil. 
superadd(su-per-ad'), v. t. [< L. st(peraddere, 
add over and above, < super, over, + addere, 
add: see add.] To add over and above; join 
in addition. 
To the obligations of creation all the obligations of re- 
demption and the new creation are tuperadded ; and this 
threefold cord should not so easily be broken. 
Baxter, Divine Life, 1. 11. 
The superadded circumstance which would evolve the 
genius had not yet come ; the universe had not yet beck- 
oned. Georye Eliot, Middleniarch, x. 
SUperadditiqn(stVper-a-dish'on),n. 1. The act 
of superadding, or the state of being super- 
added. 
It Is quite evident that the higher forms of life are the 
result of continued sttperadditian of one result of growth- 
force on another. 
E. D. Cope, Origin of the Fittest, p. 397. 
2. That which is suporadded. 
It was unlikely women should become virtuous by or- 
naments and mtperadilitions of morality who did decline 
the laws and prescriptions of nature. 
Jer. Taylor, Works (ed. 1835X I. 38. 
superadvenient (su'per-ad-ye'nient), a. 1. 
Coming upon; coming to the increase or assis- 
tance of something. 
6063 
The soul of man may have matter nf triumph when he 
has done bravely by a i/; ru l,.-i,i, i,t assistance of Ills 
God. Dr. It. Mrf. 
2. Coming unexpectedly. [Ran . J 
superagency (su-per-a'jen-si), . A higher or 
sii|irrii r agency. 
superaltar (sfli'per-al-tiir), n. [< ML. xii /a i- 
ittturi', < L. XH/II r, nver, 4- nlturr, altar.] A 
small slab of stone consecrated and laid upon 
or let into the top of an altar which has not 
lieon consecrated, or which has no stone mensa : 
often used as a portable altar. [The word is 
often incorrectly used of the altar-ledge or 
-ledges (iiradhim), also called the retable.] 
superambulacral (nu-per-am-bu-la'kral), a. 
In :<><">l., situated above ambulacra. tJuxley, 
Anat. Invert., p. 483. 
superanal (sii-per-a'nal), a. In i-iiimn., same 
as giipra-iiniil. 
superangelicfsu'per-an-jel'ik), a. More than 
angelic ; superior in nature or rank to the an- 
gels ; relating to or connected with a world or 
state of existence higher than that of the an- 
gels. 
I am not prepared to say that a Superangelic Being, con- 
tinuing such, might not nave entered Into all our wants 
and feelings as truly as one of our race. 
Channing, Perfect Life, p. 217. 
superangular (su-per-ang'gu-liir), a. Situated 
over or above the angular bone of the mandible : 
more frequently surangular (which see). 
superannatet (su-per-an'at), r. i. [< ML. xii- 
perannatus, pp. of Muprrtinnarr (> F. suranner), 
live beyond the year, hence (in F.) grow very 
old, < L. super, over, + annus, a year: see an- 
nual.] To live beyond the year. 
The dying in the winter of the roots of plants that are 
annual seemeth to be partly caused by the over-expence 
of the sap Into stalk and leaves, which being prevented, 
they \t\\lmperannate, If they stand warm. 
/;./.-.,/;, Nat Hist, | 448. 
superannuate (su-per-an'u-at), v. ; pret. and 
pp. superannuated, ppr. superannuating. [Al- 
tered, in apparent conformity with annual. 
from stiperannate, q. v.] I. trans. 1. To im- 
pair or disqualify in any way by old age: used 
chiefly in the past participle: as, a superannu- 
ated magistrate. 
Some superannuated Virgin that hath lost her Lover. 
Howett, Letters, I. L 12. 
Were there any hopes to outlive vice, or a point to be 
superannuated from sin, It were worthy our knees to Im- 
plore the days of Methuselah. 
Sir T. Browne, Rellgio Medici, I. 42. 
A superannuate*! beauty still unmarried. 
Goldsmith, Citizen of the World, xxviil. 
2. To set aside or displace as too old; specifi- 
cally, to allow to retire from service on a pen- 
sion, on account of old age or infirmity; give a 
retiring pension to ; put on the retired fist ; pen- 
sion off: as, to superannuate a seaman. 
History scientifically treated restores the ancient gift 
of prophecy, and with it may restore that ancient skill by 
which a new doctrine was furnished to each new period 
and the old doctrine could be superannuated without din- 
respect. J. R. Seeley, Nat. Religion, p. 224. 
H.t intrans. 1. To last beyond the year. 2. 
To become impaired or disabled by length of 
years ; live until weakened or useless. 
superannuate (su-per-an'u-at), . [Cf. super- 
annuate, v.] Superannuated; impaired or dis- 
abled through old age ; lasting until useless. 
Doubtless his church will be no hospital 
For superannuate forms and mumping shams. 
Lowell, Cathedral. 
superannuation (su-per-an-u-a'shon), n. [< 
superannuate + ion.'] 1. The condition of be- 
ing superannuated ; disqualification on account 
of old age; of persons, senility; decrepitude. 
Slyness blinking through the watery eye of superannu- 
ation. Coleridge. 
The world itself is In a state of nuperanimalion, if there 
be such a word. Courper, To Joseph Hill, Feb. 15, 1781. 
2. The state of being superannuated, or re- 
moved from office, employment, or the like, 
and receiving an allowance on account of long 
service or of old age or infirmity; also, a pen- 
sion or allowance granted on such account. 
Also used attributively: as, a superannuation 
In the first place superannuation is a guarantee of fidel- 
ity ; In the second place, it encourages efficient officers ; 
in the third place, it retains good men in the service. 
Pop. Sei. Mo., XXVII. 579. 
3. The state of having lived beyond the normal 
period. 
The world is typified by the Wandering Jew. Its sor- 
row Is a form of mtperannuation. 
O. S. Hall, German Culture, p. 201. 
4. Antiquated character. 
superbiquintal 
A monk he seemed by . 
knowledge. 
the xif/x-ramjua/um of his 
J>e yuincey, John Foster. 
superaqueous (rt-pte-4'kwAjM), n. Situated 
or being above tlie wnter. [Rare.] 
There has been no evidence to show that the uprights 
supported a Mjxraquefnu platform. 
Jour. Anthrop. Intl., XV. 459. 
SUperaiTOgantt I'MI-IM '-r -Jir'o-gant), a. Arro- 
gant beyond measure. 
Tile 1'rtpc rhallrntreth a faculty to rnre spiritual inipo- 
tencfos, leprosies, and possessions. Alas ! ft is not in nig 
power, though in his pride and niperarrogant glory. 
Rn. T. Adam*, Works, II. 42. 
SUperation (su-pe-ra'shon), M. [= F. xiipi'rntiiiii. 
< L. nupcratio(n-), an overcoming, < superare, 
pp. superatus, go over.] 1. The apparent pass- 
ing of one planet by another, in consequence of 
the more rapid movement in longitude of the 
latter. 2. The act or process of surmounting; 
an overcoming. 
This superb and artistic tuperation of the difficulties of 
dancing In that unfriendly foot-gear. 
Howellt, Venetian Life, II. 
superb (su-perb'), a. [= F. superbc = Sp. s- 
bcrbio = Pg. soberbo = It. superbo, < L. superbus, 
proud, haughty, domineering, < super, over: see 
super-. Cf. Gr. inrtpfiios, overweening, outra- 
geous, < inrfp, over, + jJia, strength, force.] If. 
Proud; haughty; arrogant. Jiailey, 1731. 2. 
Grand; lofty; magnificent; august; stately; 
splendid. 
Where noble Westmoreland, his country's friend, 
Bids British greatness love the silent shade. 
Where piles superb, In classic elegance, 
Arise, and all is Roman, like his heart. 
C. Smart, The Hop-Garden, li. 
He (Thoreaul gives us now and then superb outlooks 
from some Jutting crag. Lowell, Study Windows, p. 208. 
3. Rich; elegant; sumptuous; showy: as, .-"- 
perb furniture or decorations. 
The last grave fop of the last age, 
In a superb and feather'd hearse. 
ChurehM, The Ghost. 
4. Veryfine; first-rate: as, a superb exhibition. 
[Colloq.] Superb bird of paradise, Lophorhina su- 
perba: so named by Latham, after lemperbe of Brissou (1780). 
Superb Bird of Faradi*c (LafhorhiHa supertut), male. 
It was placed in thegenus Paradisea, till Vlelllot founded 
for ft the generic name under which it is now known. In 
the form Liipharina (1816). The superb is confined to New 
Guinea. The male is 9 Inches long; the general color Is vel- 
vety-black, burnished and spangled with various metallic 
Iridescence; the mantle rises Into a sort of shield, and the 
breastplate is of rich metallic green plumes mostly edged 
with copper. The female is brown of various shades, as 
chocolate and rufous and blackish, varied with white in 
some places, and has the under parts mostly pale buff 
cross-barred with brown. Superb Illy, a plant of the 
genus Gloriom, especially G. siiperba. Superb warbler 
See Malurui. =Syn. 2. Magmhent, fiplendid, etc. (see 
grand), noble, beautiful, exquisite, 
superbiatet, r. t. [< superb + -i-ate.] To make 
haughty. 
By living under Pharaoh, how quickly Joseph learned 
the Coortshlp of an Oath ! Italy builds a Villain ; Spain 
tuperbiaUi; Germany makes a drunkard. 
Felt/iam, Resolves, i. 69. 
superbioust, a. [< ML. "superbiosus (in adv. 
guperbiose), < L. superbia, pride, < superbus, 
proud: see superb.] Proud; haughty. 
For that addition, in scorne and superbious contempt an- 
nexed by you unto our publiqne prayer. 
Declaration of Popith Imposture (1603). (Kant. ) 
superbipartient (su'per-M-par'ti-ent), a. [< 
LL. superbipartien(t-)s, < L. super, over, + bis. 
bi-, twice, + partien(t-)s, ppr. otpartire, divide : 
see part.] Exceeding by two thirds that is, 
in the ratio to another number of 5 to 3 Super- 
bipartient double, a number which is to another num- 
ber as 8 to 3. 
superbiquintal (sii'per-bi-kwin'tal), a. Related 
to another number as 7 to 5 ; exceeding by two 
fifths. 
