superfluity 
rather than for comfort or from necessity; 
something that could easily be dispensed with. 
It is y e dinel that doth persuade us to many vices; it is 
the worlde that doth ingulfe us in greate troubles; it is 
the fleshe that craueth of us muche excesse and super- 
fluities. Guevara, Letters (tr. by Hellowes, 1577), p. 4s. 
To give a little of your superfluities, not so acceptable as 
the widow's gift, that gave all. Donne, Sermons, viii. 
superfluous (su-pi'r'flg-us), a. [= F. suptrflii 
= Sp. svperfluo = Pg. It. superfluo, < L. super- 
//i/iis, overflowing, unnecessary, superfluous, < 
.iiipcrfluere, overflow, nm over, superabound, 
< super, above, + fluere, flow: see fluent.] 1. 
More than is wanted or sufficient; unnecessary 
from being in excess of what is needed; ex- 
cessive; redundant; needless: as, a composi- 
tion abounding with superfluous words. 
Superfluous branches 
\Ve lop away, that bearing boughs may live. 
Shak., Rich. II., iii. 4. 68. 
It is superfluous to argue a point so clear. 
Stacaulay, Utilitarian Theory of Government. 
2f. Supplied with superfluities ; having some- 
what beyond necessaries. 
Let the superfluous and lust-dieted man 
. . . feel your power quickly. 
Shalt., Lear, iv. 1. 70. 
3f. Doing more than what is called for; super- 
erogatory. 
I see no reason why thou shouldst be so superfluous to 
demand the time of the day. Shalt., 1 Hen. IV., 1. 2. 12. 
4f. Excessive. 
Purchased 
At a superfluous rate. 
Shak., Hen. VIII., i. 1. H9. 
5. In mimic, of intervals, augmented. = gyn. 1. 
Excessive, useless, needless. 
superfluously (su-per'flO-us-li), adv. In a su- 
perfluous manner; with excess; in a degree be- 
yond what is necessary. 
superfluousness (su-per'flij-us-nes), H. The 
state or character of being superfluous. 
superflux (su'per-fluks),w. [< ML. superfluxus, 
an overflow, < ii.superfliiere,over&ow. see super- 
fluent."] That whicji is more than is wanted ; 
a superabundance * superfluity. [Rare.] 
Expose thyself to feel what wretches feel, 
That thou mayst shake the mperflux to them. 
SlMk., Lear, iii. 4. 35. 
superfoetatet, superfoetationt. See superfetate, 
superfetation. 
superfoliation (su-per-fd-li-a'shon), ii. Excess 
of foliation. 
The disease of c&uAAo/iai'ia, en<fn>AAi0>6s, or superfolia- 
tion, . . . whereby the fructifying juice is starved by the 
excess of leaves. Sir T. Brourne, Misc. Tracts, i. 43. 
superfrontal (su-per-fron'tal), a. and . I. a. 
Superior or upper, as a fissure of the frontal 
lobe of the brain : specifying one of the anterior 
lateral fissures: distinguished from subfrontal. 
II. n. Eccles.: (at) A dossal. (6) The cov- 
ering of the mensa, or top of the altar. It over- 
hangs the upper part of the frontal. See fron- 
tal, 5 (a). ' 
superfunction (su-per-fungk'shon), . Exces- 
sive activity, as of an organ of the body. 
superfunctional (su-per-fungk'shon-al),. Be- 
ing in excess of the normal function. 
SUperfuse (su-per-fuz'), v. ; pret. and pp. super- 
fused, ppr. superf using. [< L. superfmus, pp. 
of superfmulere, pour over, < super, over, + 
fundere, pour out: see /iwc 1 .] I. trans. To 
pour over something else. [Rare.] 
Dr. Slayer showed us an experiment of a wonderful 
nature, pouring first a very cold liquor into a glass, and 
super-fusini/ on it another. 
Evelyn, Diary, Dec. 13, 1686. (Davies.) 
II. intrans. To be poured or spread over 
something else. The Century, XXXVII. 225. 
[Rare.] 
superheat (su-per-hef), . t. To heat to an ex- 
treme degree or to a very high temperature : 
specifically, to heat, as steam, apart from con- 
tact with water, until it resembles a perfect gas. 
superheater (su-per-he'ter), n. In a steam-en- 
gine, a contrivance for increasing the tempera- 
ture of the steam to the amount it would lose on 
its way from the boiler until exhausted from the 
cylinder. This end is frequently attained by making 
the steam travel through a number of small tubes several 
times across the uptake, or foot of the chimney before it 
enters the steam-pipe. 
superheresyt (su-per-her'e-si), H. A heresy 
based on another. Sir T. Browne, Relisio Me- 
dici, i. 8. [Rare.] 
superhive (su'per-hlv), . An upper compart- 
ment of a beehive, removable at pleasure. 
superhuman (su-per-hu'man), a. [= p. siir- 
linmain = Sp, Pg. sobreltuniano; as super- + hu- 
6066 
num.'] Above or beyond what is human ; hence, 
sometimes, divine. 
It is easy for one who has taken an exaggerated view of 
his powers to invest himself with a superhuman authority. 
J. B. Mozley, Augustinian Doct. of Predestination. 
[(Latham.) 
The superhuman quality of Divine truth. 
H'. 0. T. Shedd, Sermons, Spiritual Man, p. 418. 
= Syu. Preternatural, etc. See supernatural. 
superhumanity(su"per-hu-man'i-ti), n. [< su- 
jierlnimau + -ity."] The character of being su- 
perhuman. [Rare.] 
I have dwelt thus on the transcendent pretensions of 
Jesus, because there is an argument here for his superhu- 
manity which cannot be resisted. 
Buihnett, Nature and the Supernat., p. 291. 
superhumanly (su-per-hu'man-li), adv. In a 
superhuman manner. E. H. 'Sears, The Fourth 
Gospel, p. 87. 
SUperhumeral (su-per-hu'me-ral), n. [= Sp. 
Pg. superJiumeral = It. superumerale, < ML. 
superhmnerak, < L. super, above, + humenis, 
prop, mnerus, shoulder: see liumerus."] 1. Ec- 
cles.: (a) A Jewish ephod. (6) An amice, (c) 
An archiepiscopal pallium or pall. See hu- 
meral. 2. Something borne on the shoulders; 
a burden : probably with allusion to an eccle- 
siastical vestment. 
A strange superhumeral, the print whereof was to be 
seen on His shoulders. Bp. Andrews, Sermons, I. 25. 
superhumerate (su-per-hu'me-rat), i\ t. ; pret. 
and pp. superliumerated, ppr. "superhumerating. 
[< L. super, over, + humerus, prop, wmerns, 
shoulder. Cf. superhumei-al."] To place, as a 
burden, on one's shoulders. [Rare.] 
Nothing surer tyes a friend then freely to superhumer- 
ate the burthen which was his. Feltham, Resolves, i. 82. 
superimaginary (su'per-i-inaj'i-na-ri), a. Re- 
lated to other imaginary transformations as an 
imaginary to a real root. 
superimpose (su' / per-im-p6z / ), v. t. ; pret. and 
pp. superimposed, ppr. superimposing. [< super- 
+ impose, after L. superimponere, pp. superim- 
positus, lay upon, < super, over, + imponere, lay 
upon : see impose.] To lay or impose on some- 
thing else : as, a stratum superimposed on an- 
other. 
super-imposition (su-per-im-po-zish'pn), n. 
The act of superimposing, or the state oj being 
superimposed. Amer. Jour. Sci., 3d ser., XL. 
359. 
superimpregnation (su-per-im-preg-na'shon), 
n. Superfetation ; superfecundation. 
supermcumbence(8u*per-in-kum'bens), . [< 
superincmnben(t) + -ce.~] The state or condition 
of lying upon something. 
superincumbency (su"per-in-kum'ben-si), n. 
Same as supermcumbence. 
superincumbent (su-'per-in-kum'bent), a. [< 
L. superincuniben(t-)s, ppr. of stiperincumbere, 
lay or cast oneself upon, < super, over, + inmm- 
bere, lie upon : see incumbent.'] Lying or rest- 
ing on something else. 
It is sometimes so extremely violent that it forces the 
superincumbent strata, breaks them throughout, and there- 
by perfectly undermines and ruins their foundations. 
Woodward. 
It can scarce uplift 
The weight of the superincumbent hour. 
Shelley, Adonais, xxxli. 
superinduce (su"per-in-dus'), v. t.; pret. and 
pp. superinduced, ppr. superinducing. [< L. 
superinducere, draw over, bring upon, < super, 
over, + inducere, bring upon : see induce.] To 
bring in or upon as an addition to something; 
develop or bring into existence in addition to 
something else. 
The anointment of God superinduceth a brotherhood In 
kings and bishops. Bacon, Advancement of Learning, ii. 
Here are two imitations : first, the poet's of the sufferer ; 
secondly, the actor's of both : poetry is superinduced. 
Landor, Epicurus, Leontion, and Ternissa. 
super-inducement (supper -in -dus'ment), n. 
The act of superinducing ; also, that which is 
superinduced. Bp. Will-ins, Nat. Religion, i. 12. 
SUperinduction (su^per-in-duk'shon), . [< LL. 
superinductio(n-), < superinducere, superinduce : 
see superinduce."] The act of superinducing. 
Jer. Taylor, Works (ed. 1835), I. 6., Pref. 
superinduet (su"per-in-du'), v. [< super- + in- 
<?e 2 .] To assume ; put on. 
A subtle body which the soul had before its terrene na- 
tivity and which continues with it after death will, at last, 
superindue or put on immortality. 
Cudworth, Intellectual System, v. iii. 
superinenarrable (su-per-in-e-nar'a-bl), a. [< 
super- + inenarrable."] In th'e higliest degree 
incapable of narration or description. [Rare.] 
superintender 
St. Augustine prays: "Holy Trinity, superadmirable 
Trinity, and superinenarrable, and superinstru table." 
M. Arnold, Literature and Dogma, ix. 
super-infinite (su-per-in'fi-nit), a. In iiidtli., 
going through infinity into a new region. See 
super in finite quantity, under quantity. 
superinspect (sn'pSr-in-spekV), r.'t. [< LL. 
supcriiinpicere, pp. supcringpectiis, oversee, < L. 
xiiper, over, + iuspicere, look upon, inspect: see 
inspect."] To oversee; superintend by inspec- 
tion. [Rare.] Imp. Diet. 
super-institution (su-per-in-sti-tu'shon), w. In 
cedes, law, one institution upon another; the 
institution of one person into a benefice into 
which another is already instituted. This has 
sometimes taken place where two persons have claimed, 
by adverse titles, the right of making presentation to the 
benefice. 
superintend (su"per-in-tend'), *. [= Pg. mper- 
iii If nder, < LL. superintended, attend to, over- 
see, < L. super, over, + in tendere, intend, attend : 
see intend.'] I. trans. To have charge and di- 
rection of, as of a school ; direct the course and 
oversee the details of (some work, as the con- 
struction of a building, or movement, as of an 
army); regulate with authority ; manage. See 
supervise. 
The king will appoint a ... council who may super- 
intend the works of this nature, and regulate what con- 
cerns the colonies. Bacon, Advice to Villiern. 
Of what importance it is, even to the formation of taste, 
that the manners should be severely superintended, '. 
Goldsmith, Taste. 
= 8yn. To overlook, supervise, guide, regulate, control, 
conduct, administer. 
Il.t intrans. To oversee; have charge or 
oversight; exercise superintendence. 
In like manner, they called toth the child-bearing of 
women, and the goddesses that superintend over the same, 
Eilithuia or Luclna. 
Cudworth, Intellectual System, p. 229. 
superintendence (su"per-in-ten'dens), . [< 
OF. superintendance, also surintendance, F. sn- 
rintendance = Sp. Pg. superintendencia, < ML. 
superintendentia, < LL. superintendents, over- 
seeing: see superintendent."] The act of super- 
intending; also, the right of superintending, or 
authority to superintend. 
An admirable indication of the divine superintendence 
and management. Derham. 
= Syn, Supervision, direction, control, guidance, charge, 
management. 
SUperintendency (su"per-in-ten'den-si), n. [As 
superintendence (see -cy).~] 1. Saine as super- 
intendence. 
Where the Thelstical Belief is intire and perfect, there 
must be a stedy Opinion of the Superintendence of a Su- 
preme Being. Shaftesbury, Inquiry, II. iii. 3. 
2. The office or the place of business of a su- 
perintendent. 
Superintendent of Trade, Hong Kong, December 22, 
1853. . . .Your excellency's most obedient humble servant 
J. G. Bonham, The Americans in Japan, App., p. 399. 
superintendent (su"per-in-ten'dent), a. and . 
[< OF. superintendant, also suriniendant, F. su- 
rintendant = Sp. Pg. superintendents, < LL. su- 
perintenden(t-)s, ppr. of superintendere, attend 
to, oversee: see superintend."] I. a. Superin- 
tending. 
The superintendent deity, who hath many more under 
him. Staiingfleet. 
A superintendent provincial organization. 
W. Wilson, State, 471. 
II. n. 1. One who superintends, or has the 
oversight and charge of something with the 
power of direction: as, the superintendent of an 
almshouse ; the superintendent of customs or 
finance; a superintendent of police. Hence 
2. In certain Protestant churches, a clergyman 
exercising supervision over the church and 
clergy of a district, but not claiming episcopal 
authority; in the English Wesleyan Church, an 
officer who has charge of a circuit, and presides 
as chief pastor in all circuit courts. 3. The 
commanding officer of various military or naval 
institutions, as th e United States Military Acad- 
emy at West Point, New York, and the United 
States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland. 
4. An officer who has charge of some specific 
service: as, the superintendent of the recruit- 
ing service. =Syn. 1. Inspector, overseer, supervisor, 
manager, director, curator. 
superintendents!!!? (su"per-in-ten'dent-ship). 
n. [(superintendent + -sltip.~\ The office or work 
of a superintendent. Purclias, Pilgrimage, p. 64. 
superintender (su"per-in-teu'der), n. [< su- 
perintend + -er 1 .] One who superintends, or 
who exercises oversight; a superintendent. 
\Ve are thus led to see that our relation to the Superin- 
tender of our moral being, to the Depositary of the supreme 
