*super*

n. The quality or state of being insuperable; insuperableness. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. insuperabilis: cf. OF. insuperable. See In- not, and Superable. ] Incapable of being passed over or surmounted; insurmountable; as, insuperable difficulties. [ 1913 Webster ]

And middle natures, how they long to join,
Yet never pass the insuperable line? Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

The difficulty is enhanced, or is . . . insuperable. I. Taylor.

Syn. -- Impassable; insurmountable; unconquerable.

-- In*su"per*a*ble*ness, n. -- In*su"per*a*bly, adv. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A contraction of Supernumerary, in sense 2. [ Theatrical Cant ] [ 1913 Webster ]

[ L. super over, above; akin to Gr. &unr_;, 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

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 It has been superseded by per-, bi-, di-, acid, etc.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-. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. superabilis, from superare to go over, to surmount, fr. super above, over. ] Capable of being overcome or conquered; surmountable. [ 1913 Webster ]

Antipathies are generally superable by a single effort. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Su"per*a*ble*ness, n. -- Su"per*a*bly, adv. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. superabundantia: cf. OF. superabondance. ] The quality or state of being superabundant; a superabundant quantity; redundancy; excess. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [1913 Webster]

a. Acidulated to excess. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

The strength of any living creature, in those external motion, is something distinct from, and superadded unto, its natural gravity. Bp. Wilkins. [ 1913 Webster ]

The peacock laid it extremely to heart that he had not the nightingale's voice superadded to the beauty of his plumes. L'Estrange. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of adding something in excess or something extraneous; also, something which is added in excess or extraneously. [ 1913 Webster ]

This superaddition is nothing but fat. Arbuthnot. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Coming upon; coming in addition to, or in assistance of, something. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

He has done bravely by the superadvenient assistance of his God. Dr. H. More. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of overfeeding, or making one take food in excess of the natural appetite for it. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Arch.) A raised shelf or stand on the back of an altar, on which different objects can be placed; a predella or gradino. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Superior to the angels in nature or rank. [ R. ] Milman. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To give a pension to, on account of old age or other infirmity; to cause to retire from service on a pension. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To last beyond the year; -- said of annual plants. [ Obs. ] Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state of being superannuated, or too old for office or business; the state of being disqualified by old age; decrepitude. [ 1913 Webster ]

The world itself is in a state of superannuation. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

Slyness blinking through the watery eye of superannuation. Coleridge. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ F. superbe, L. superbus, fr. super over. See Super-. ] 1. Grand; magnificent; august; stately; as, a superb edifice; a superb colonnade. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Rich; elegant; as, superb furniture or decorations. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Showy; excellent; grand; as, a superb exhibition. [ 1913 Webster ]

Superb paradise bird (Zool.), a bird of paradise (Paradisaea superba syn. 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. (Zool.) See Blue wren, under Wren. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Su*perb"ly, adv. -- Su*perb"ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Cf. L. superbiare. ] To make (a person) haughty. [ Obs. & R. ] Feltham. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Chem.) A bicarbonate. [ Obsoles. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Chem.) Bicarbureted. [ Written also supercarburetted. ] [ Obsoles. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Anat.) Situated above, or in the upper part of, the carpus. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. super- + celestial: cf. L. supercaelestis. ] 1. Situated above the firmament, or great vault of heaven. Waterland. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Higher than celestial; superangelic. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Her.) A bearing charged upon another bearing. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Above or beyond chemistry; inexplicable by chemical laws. J. Le Conte. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. supercherie. ] Deceit; fraud; imposition. [ Obs. & R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. supercilium an eyebrow. See Supercilious. ] 1. Of or pertaining to the eyebrows; supraorbital. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) Having a distinct streak of color above the eyes; as, the superciliary woodpecker. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ L. ] (Zool.) The eyebrow, or the region of the eyebrows. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Physiol.) Superfetation. [ R. ] Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Remote consequence. [ Obs. ] Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Supercrescent. ] That which grows upon another growing thing; a parasite. [ R. ] Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. supercrescens, p. pr. of supercrescere; super above + crescere to grow. ] Growing on some other growing thing. [ R. ] Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Geol.) Same as Supracretaceous. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ 1913 Webster ]

a. Excessively curious or inquisitive. Evelyn. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Mus.) The sixth tone of the scale; that next above the dominant; -- called also submediant. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Dreadnought, above. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

{ } 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

He was not forever beset with the consciousness of his own supereminence. Prof. Wilson. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [1913 Webster]

a. [ L. supererogans, p. pr. See Supererogate. ] Supererogatory. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

The fervency of one man in prayer can not supererogate for the coldness of another. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. supererogatio a payment in addition. ] The act of supererogating; performance of more than duty or necessity requires. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Supererogatory. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Performed to an extent not enjoined, or not required, by duty or necessity; as, supererogatory services. Howell. [ 1913 Webster ]