704 
SUP 
To SUPERSTRA'IN, v. a. To strain beyond the just 
stretch.—In the straining of a string, the further it is strained, 
the less superstraining goeth to a note. Bacon. 
To SUPERSTRU'CT, v. a. [superstruo, superstructus, 
Lat.] To build upon any thing.—This is the only proper 
basis on which to superstruct first innocency, and then 
virtue. Dec. of Chr. Piety. 
SUPERSTRU'CTION, s. An edifice raised on any thing. 
—I want not to improve the honour of the living by impair¬ 
ing that of the dead ; and my own profession hath taught 
me not to erect new superstructions upon an old ruin. 
Denham. 
SUPERSTRU'CTIVE, adj. Built upon something else. 
—He that is so sure of his particular election, as to resolve 
he can never fall, must necessarily resolve, that what were 
drunkenness in another, is not so in him, and nothing but 
the removing his fundamental error can rescue him from the 
superslructive, be it never so gross. Hammond. 
SUPERSTRU'CTURE, s. That which is raised or built 
upon something else.—You have added to your natural en¬ 
dowments the superstructures of study. Dryden. 
SUPERSUBSTA'NTIAL, adj. More than substantial. 
SUPERSU'BTLE, adj. Over subtle.—If sanctimony and 
a frail vow betwixt an erring barbarian and supersubtie Ve¬ 
netian be not too hard for my wits. Shakspearc. 
SUPERVACA'NEOUS, adj. [supervacaneus, Lat.] Su¬ 
perfluous ; needless; unnecessary ; ‘"Serving to no purpose. 
Unused. 
SUPERVACA'NEOUSLY, ado. Needlessly. Unused. 
SUPERVACA'NEOUSNESS, s. Needlessness. Unused. 
To SUPERVE'NE, v. n. [supervenio, Lat.] To come 
as an extraneous addition.—His good-will, when placed on 
any, was so fixed and rooted, that even supervening vice, 
to which he had the greatest detestation imaginable, could 
not easily remove it. Fell. —Such a mutual gravitation can 
never supervene to matter, unless impressed by a divine 
power. Bentley. 
SUPERVE'NIENT, adj. [superveniens, Lat.] Added; 
additional.—If it were unjust to murder John, the superve¬ 
nient oath did not extenuate the fact, or oblige the juror 
unto it. Brown. 
SUPERVE'NTION, s. The act of supervening.—An 
espousal contract may be broken off by the supervention of 
a legal kindred, inexpected. Hall. 
To SUPERVI'SE, v. a. [ super and visas, Latin.] To 
overlook : to oversee ; to intend.—M. Bayle speaks of the 
vexation of the supervising of the press, in terms so feeling 
that they move compassion. Congreve. 
SU'PERVISE, s. Inspection. Not in use. 
That on the supervise, no leisure bated. 
No, not to stay the grinding of the axe. 
My head should be struck off. Shakspcare. 
SUPERVISION, s. Act of supervising.—I have a con¬ 
fused remembrance of having seen an old donation, for the 
sustenance of a perpetual lamp to burn before the high-altar 
in the royal chapel at Islip, under the trust and supervision 
of the abbots of Westminster. JVarton. 
SUPERVISOR, s. An overseer; au inspector; a super- 
intendant.—A supervisor may signify an overseer of the 
poor, an inspector of the customs, a surveyor of high-ways, a 
supervisor of the excise. Watts. 
How satisfy’d, my lord ! 
Would you be supervisor, grossly gape on ? Shakspcare. 
To SUPERVI'VE, v. n. To overlive; to outlive.—Upon 
what principle can the soul be imagined to be naturally mor¬ 
tal, or what revolutions in nature will it not be able to resist 
and supervive ? Clarke. 
SUPINAMA, a river of Guiana, which falls into the 
Essequebo. Many estates and settlements are already on its 
banks; and it is also the residence of several timber cullers 
and brick-makers, the soil for which is particularly good. 
SUPINA'TION, s. [ supination, Fr., from supino, Latin.] 
The act of lying, or state of being' laid with the face 
upward.—In anatomy,’ the position of the hand, in which the 
SUP 
palm is turned upwards.—They [the muscles] can perform 
—flexion, extension, pronation, supination, the tonic mo¬ 
tion, circumgyration ; and all these with so great expedition 
and agility, that they are much sooner done than said, yea, 
as soon done as thought on. Smith. 
SUPI'NE, adj. [supinus, Latin.] Lying with the face 
upward : opposed to prone. Brown. 
At him he lanc’d his spear, and pierc'd his breast; 
On the hard earth the Lycian knock’d his head. 
And lay supine ; and forth the spirit fled. Dryden. 
Leaning backwards with exposure to the sun. 
If the vine. 
On rising ground be plac’d or hills supine, 
Extend thy loose battalions. Dryden. 
Negligent; careless; indolent; drowsy; thoughtless; in¬ 
attentive. 
Supine amidst our flowing store 
We slept securely. Dryden. 
Supine in Sylvia’s snowy arms he lies, 
And all the busy cares of life defies. Tatler. 
SU'PINE, s. [supin, French; supinum, Latin.] Li 
Latin Grammar, a term signifying a noun formed from a 
verb. 
SUPI'NELY, adv. With the face upward.—Drowsily ; 
thoughtlessly; indolently. 
Who on the beds of sin supinely lie. 
They in the summer of their age shall die. Sandys. 
SUPINENESS, s. Posture with the face upward.—.Drow¬ 
siness ; carelessness; indolence.—When this door is open to 
let Dissenters in, considering their industry and our supins- 
ness they may in a very few years grow to a majority in the 
house of commons. Swift. 
SUPI'NITY, s. Posture of lying with the face upwards._ 
Carelessness; indolence ; thoughtlessness.-—The fourth cause 
of errour is a supinity or neglect of enquiry, even in matters 
wherein we doubt, rather believing than going to see. 
Brown. 
SUPONGA, a small river of Guiana, which runs south, 
somewhat inclining to the west, and enters the Caroni. 
SUPPAGE, s. What may be supped ; pottage. Unused. 
SUPPALPA'TION, s. [from suppalpor, Lat. to wheedle .] 
Act of enticing by soft words.—Thou art a corn tier, and 
hast laid a plot to rise; if obsequious servility to the great; 
if those gilts in the bosom, which our blunt ancestors would 
have termed bribes; if plausible suppalpations, if restless 
importunities will hoist thee; thou wilt mount! Seasonable 
Serin. (1644.) 
SUPPARASITA'TION, s. [from supparasifor, Lat. to 
fatter .] The act of flattering or paying servile court to. 
Unused. 
SUPPEDA'NEOUS, adj [ sub and pes, Lat.] Placed 
under the feet.—He had slender legs, but encreased by riding 
after meals; that is, the humour descended upon their pedu- 
losity, they having no support or suppedancous stability. 
Brown. 
To SUPPE'DITATE, v. a. [suppedito, Latin.] To 
supply.—Whosoever is able to suppeditate all things to the 
sufficing of all must have an infinite power. Pearson. 
SU’PPER, s. [ souper , Fr. See Sup.] The last meal of 
the day; the evening repast.—To-night we hold a solemn 
supper. Shakspearc. —The hour of supper comes uneam’d. 
Milton. 
SUPPERLESS, adj. Wanting supper; fasting at night. 
She ey’d the bard, where supperless he sat. 
And pin’d, unconscious of his rising fate. Pope. 
To SUPPLA'NT, v. a. [supplantcr, Fr., sub and plant a,. 
Latin.] To trip up the heels. 
The thronging populace with hasty strides 
Obstruct the easy way: the rocking town 
Supplants their footsteps; to and fro they reel. Philips. 
To displace by stratagem; to turn out.—It is Philoclea 
his heart is set upon: it is my daughter I have borne to sup¬ 
plant me. Sidney. 
To 
