superintender 
law of jiiHt and light, i.s a relation of incalculable conse- 
quence. Whewell. (Imp. Diet.) 
superinvolution(sii-ip(T-in-vo-lu'shgn), . Ex- 
cc-.sivc' involution. 
superior (sn )" 'ri-or), <* an< l " [Formerly also 
x 11/nrioi/r; < OF. supericur. F. miprrii'nr = 8p. 
I'd- iiiprriiir = It. miperiore, :i.. < I,, supirmr. 
higher, in ML. as a noun, one higher, a supe- 
rior, voinpar. (cf. superl. supremus, summun, 
lii^licst) of mijicrus, that is above, < super, over, 
above: see super-, and cf. supreme and i/ii.] 
1. <i. 1. More elevated in place; higher; up- 
per: as, the superior liinli of the sun: opposed 
to inferior. 
Now from the depth of hell they lift their sight, 
Anil at a distance see superior light. 
Dryden. tr. of Ovid's Metamorph., Ceyx and Alcyone, 1. 188. 
2. In aunt, and zniil., upper in relative position 
or direction ; uppermost with regard to some- 
tliiiiK else: correlated with anterior, inferior, 
and poxti-rior. Theeplthet was originally used In ana- 
tomical language to note the parts relatively so situated 
in man, and has caused much confusion In Its extension to 
"tli IT animals, since that which is superior in man become* 
anterior in most animals, and so on with the three corre- 
lated words. The tendency la now to replace these epi- 
thets with others not alfected by the posture of the ani- 
mal, as cephalic, caudal, donal, and ventral, with the cor- 
responding adverbs ending in -ad. 
The vague ambiguity of such terms as superior, Inferior, 
anterior, posterior, etc., must have been felt and acknow- 
ledged by every person the least versant with anatomical 
description. Dr. John Barclay, A New Anatomical 
(Nomenclature (1803). 
3. In but.: (a) Placed higher, as noting the 
relative position of the calyx and ovary: thus, 
the ovary is superior when the calyx is qnite 
free from it, as normally; the calyx is superior 
when from being adnate to the ovary it appears 
to spring from its top. (6) Next the axis ; be- 
longing to the part of an axillary flower which 
is toward the main stem. Also called posterior, 
(c) Pointing toward the apex of the fruit ; as- 
cending: said of the radicle. 4. Higher in rank 
or office ; more exalted in dignity : as, a superior 
officer; a superior degree or nobility. 
The apostles in general, in their ordinary offices, . . . 
were superior to the seventy-two, the antecessors of the 
presbyUjraU;. Jar. Taylor, Works (ed. 1S3&X H. 163. 
6. Higher or greater in respect to some quality 
or property ; possessed or manifested in a high- 
er (or, absolutely, very high) decree : appliedto 
persons and things, and to their qualities and 
properties ; surpassing others in the greatness, 
goodness, extent, or value of any quality; in 
math., greater. 
Honesty has no fence against superior cunning. 
Swift, Gulliver's Travels, 1. 6. 
His [Dryden's] claims on the gratitude of James were 
mperior to those of any man of letters in the Kingdom. 
MuruHliiii, Hist. Eng., vii. 
The French were superior In the number and condition 
of then- cavalry. Preicott, Ferd. and Isa., 11. 12. 
Nor do I know anything in ivory carving mperior to the 
panels of the tomb [Maximilian's] Itself. 
C. D. Warner, Roundabout Journey, p. 70. 
6. Being beyond the power or influence of 
something; too great or firm to be subdued or 
affected by something; above: used only pred- 
icatively or appositively : with to: as, a man 
superior to revenge. Sometimes used sarcas- 
tically, as of an assumed quality, without to : 
as, he smiled with a superior air. 
Great Mother, let me once be able 
To have a Garden, House, and Stable, 
That I may read, and ride, and plant, 
Superior to Desire, or Want, 
Prior, Written at Paris, 1700. 
7. In logic, less in comprehension ; less deter- 
minate; having less depth, and consequently 
commonly wider. 
Biped is a genus with reference to man and bird, but a 
species with respect to the mperior genus, animal. 
J. S. Mill, Logic, I. Til. i 3. 
Superior conjunction, in nitron. See conjunction, 2. 
Superior Court See court. - Superior figures or let- 
tors, small figures or letters cast at the top of text-type, 
used as marks of reference to notes or for other purposes : 
for examples, see II., 4, below. Superior limit, a value 
which some quantity cannot exceed. Superior planet, 
a planet farther from the sun than the earth, especially 
Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, t'ranus, and Neptune. Superior 
Slope, in fort., the slope from the crest of the parapet to 
the top of the exterior slope, with which it forms an ob- 
tuse angle. Superior Wings, in entom., the anterior 
whins, which overlie or fold over the posterior ones; the 
upper wings. = 8yn. 5. Paramount, surpassing, predomi- 
nant. 
II. . 1. One who is superior to or above 
another; one who U higher or greater than an- 
other, as in social station, rank, office, dignity, 
power, or ability. 
6067 
NDW we imagine ourselves so able every man to teach 
and direct all others that none of us can brook It to have 
luperiori. Hooker, Eccles. Polity, vii in. 
Specifically 2. The chief of a monastery, con- 
vent, or abbey. 3. In Scots law, one who or 
whose predecessor has made an original grant 
of heritable property on condition that the 
grantee, termed the vassal, shall annually pay to 
him a certain sum (commonly called //"-<//!/; 
or perform certain services. 4. In printiuy, 
a small figure or letter standing above or near 
the top of the line, used as a mark of reference 
or for other purposes: thus, a#, "; so backi, 
back 1 *, and other homonyms as distinguished 
in this dictionary. TO enter with a superior see 
enter. 
superioress (su-pe'ri-or-es), n. [< superior + 
-ess.] A woman who liolds the chief authority 
in an abbey, nunnery, or similar institution: 
more properly called lady superior. [Bare.] 
superiority (su-pe-ri-or'i-ti), n. [< OF. superi- 
orite, F. superiority = Sp. superioridad = Pg. 
superioridade = It. superiorita, < ML. superi- 
orita( t-)s, < L. superior, superior : see superior.] 
1. The state or character of being superior, in 
any sense. 
These two street* doe Mem to contend for the superior- 
ity, but the first Is the fairest. Coryat, Crudities, I. 216. 
"He read, 8ir," rejoined Pott . . . with a smile of In- 
tellectual superiority, "he read for metaphysics under the 
letter M , and for China under the letter C ; and combined 
his Information [for Chinese metaphysics], Sir 1 " 
Dtekent, Pickwick, 1. 
2. In Scots law, the right which the superior 
enjoys in the land held by the vassal. (See 
superior, 3.) The superiority of all the lands 
in the kingdom was originally in the sovereign. 
= Syn. 1. Preference, etc. (see priority); predominancy, 
ascendancy, advantage, preponderance, excellence, no- 
bility. 
superiorly (su-pe'ri-or-li), adv. 1. In a higher 
position ; above ; cephalad, of man ; dorsad, of 
other animals. 2. In a superior manner. 
superiorness (su-pe'ri-or-nes), n. Superior- 
ity, lime. D'Arblay, Camilla, iii. 6. (Davies.) 
[ware.] 
superius (8u-pe'ri-us),M. [ML., neut. of superior, 
higher: see superior."] In medieval music, the 
highest voice-part in part-writing, correspond- 
ing to the modern soprano or treble. 
superjacent (su-per-ja'sent), a. [< L. superja- 
cen(t-)s, ppr. of superjacere, lie upon, < super, 
above, + jacere t lie: seejacent.] Lying above 
or upon; superincumbent: the opposite of sub- 
jacent. Whewell. 
superlationt (su-per-la'shon), n. [= It. super- 
lazione, < L. superlatio(n-), an exaggerating, < 
superlatus, used as pp. of superferre, carry over 
or beyond: see superlative.] Exaltation of any- 
thing beyond truth or propriety. 
Superlation and over-muchness amplifies. 
B. Jonson, Discoveries. 
superlative (su-per'la-tiv), a. and n. [< ME. 
superlatif, < OF. (and' F.) superlatif = Pr. su- 
perlatiu = Sp. Pg. It. superlativo = Q. super- 
latif, < LL. superlative, exaggerated, hyper- 
bolic, superlative, < L. superlatus, used as pp. 
of superferre, carry over or beyond, raise high, 
< super, above, + ferre = E. bear 1 .'] 1. a. 1. 
Raised to or occupying the highest pitch, posi- 
tion, or degree ; most eminent ; surpassing all 
other; supreme: as, a man of superlative wis- 
dom. 
Ther nys no thyng in yree tupertatuf, 
As seith Senek, above an humble wyf. 
Chaucer, Merchant's Tale, 1. 131. 
Here beauty is superlative. 
Beau, and, Fl., Laws of Candy, ii. 1. 
2. In gram., noting that form of an adjective 
or an adverb which expresses the highest or ut- 
most degree of the quality or manner: as, the 
superlative degree of comparison. 
II. n. 1. That which is highest or of most 
eminence; the utmost degree. 
Thus doing, you shall be most fayre, most i itch, most 
wise, most all ; you shall dwell vpon Kuprrlatiuet. 
Sir P. Sidney, Apol. for Poetrle. 
2. In gram.: (a) The superlative degree of ad- 
jectives or adverbs, which is formed in English 
by the termination -cst, as meanest, highest, 
bravest; hence, also, the equivalent phrase 
made by the use of most, as most high, imixt 
brave ; or even of least, as least amiable. 
Some have a violent and turgid manner of talking and 
thinking ; they are always In extremes, and pronounce 
concerning everything In the superlative. Watts. 
(b) A word or phrase in the superlative degree: 
as, to make much use of superlatives. 
supernal 
I well know the peril which lies In superlatives they 
were rnaJe for the use of very young persons. 
Jotiah Quinty, Figures of the Past, p. 334. 
superlatively (su-ptr'la-tiv-li), mlr. In a su- 
perlative manner or degree ; in the highest Mi- 
utmost degree. Baron. 
superlativeness (su-per'la-tiv-ncH), . The 
state or character of being superlative. Bailey, 
1727. 
superline (su'per-lin), n. A two-dimensional 
linear continuum in five-dimensional space. 
superlinear (su-per-lin'e-Br), n. In mo/A.. M 
determinant. 
superlucratet (su-per-lu'krat), v. t. [< LL. su- 
perlucratus, pp. of superlucrari, gain in addi- 
tion/ li.super, above, + lucrari, gain : see lin-n . 
v.] To gam in addition; gain extraordinarily. 
As hath been proved, the people of England do thrive, 
and ... It Is possible they might ruperlucratf twenty- 
five millions per annum. 
I'etty, Political Arlthmetick, p. 107. (Encyc. Diet.) 
superlucrationt (su'per-lu-kra'shon), . [< - 
perlucrate + -ion.] Extraordinary gain; gain 
in addition. 
superlunar (su-ner-lu'niir), a. [< L. super, 
above, + luna, the moon: see lunar.] Being 
above the moon ; not sublunary or of this world. 
Pope. 
superlunary (su-per-lu'na-ri), a. Same as su- 
perlunar. 
Other ambition than of crowns In air, 
And ntperlunary felicities, 
Thy bosom warm. Young, Night Thoughts, vl. 
superlunatical (su'per-lu-nat'i-kal), a. Lu- 
natic in the extreme; insane to an extraordi- 
nary degree. [Bare.] 
First Babbi Busy, thou ntptrlunatical hypocrite. 
B. Jonton, Bartholomew Fair, v. 8. 
supermedial (su-per-me'di-al), a. [< L. super, 
above, + medius, middle: see medial.] Lying 
or being above the middle. 
supermolecule (su-per-mol'e-kul), . A com- 
pounded molecule, or combination of two mole- 
cules of different substances. 
supermundane (su-per-mun'dan), a. [< L. 
super, above, + mundus,, the world : see mun- 
dane.] Being above the world; superior to 
the world or earthly things. 
supermundialt (su-per-mun'di-al), a. Super- 
mundane. Cudworth, Intellectual System, p. 
563. 
snpemt, a. [Early mod. E. superne; = Sp. Pg. 
It. superno, < L. supernus, that is above, on 
high, upper, < super, above : see super.] That 
is above ; celestial ; supernal. Bp. Fisher, Seven 
Penitential Psalms. 
supernacular (su-per-nak'u-liir), a. [< super- 
nacul(um) + -a3.J Having the quality of su- 
pernaculum; of first-rate quality; very good: 
said of liquor. 
Some white hermitage at the Haws (by the way, the 
butler only gave me half a glass each time) was tvper- 
nacular. Thackeray, Book of Snobs, xxxi. 
supernaculum (su-per-nak'u-lum), adv. and n. 
[Prop, an adverbial phrase, NL. super nacu- 
lum, 'on the nail': L. super, above, upon; NL. 
naculum, < G. nayel. nail: see nail.] I. adv. 
On the nail : used of drinking, with reference 
to the custom of turning the glass over the 
thumb to show that there was only a drop left 
small enough to rest on the nail : as, to drink 
supernaculum. 
To drink supernaculum was an antient custom, not only 
In England, but also in several other parts of Europe, of 
emptying the cup or glass, and then pouring the drop or 
two that remained at the bottom upon the person's nail 
that drank it, to shew that he was no fllncher. 
UranJ, Pop. Antiq. (ed. 1813X II. 288. 
II. . Wine good enough to be worth drink- 
ing to the bottom; good liquor; hence, any- 
thing very fine or enjoyable. 
Qab. For the cup's sake III bear the cupbearer. 
Iden. Tis here ! the guprrnacuhnn ! twenty years 
Of age, if 'tis a day. Byron, Werner, L 1. 
And empty to each radiant comer 
A supernaculum of summer. Luirell, Eurydlce. 
supernal (su-per'nal), a. [= It. supernale, < 
L. supernug, that is' above, on high, upper: see 
supern. Cf. infernal.] 1. Being in a higher or 
upper place ; situated above : as, supernal re- 
gions. 
Then downe she [Fortune] tbrustes from their tupernall 
seat 
Princes & kings, A makes them begg their meat. 
Time*' Whittle (E. E. T. S.), p. 125. 
2. Relating to things above; celestial; heav- 
enly. 
That supernal Judge that stirs good thoughts. 
Shak., K. John, ii. 1. 112. 
