a. [ L., compar. of superus being above, fr. super above, over: cf. F. supérieur. See Super-, and cf. Supreme. ] 1. More elevated in place or position; higher; upper; as, the superior limb of the sun; the superior part of an image. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Higher in rank or office; more exalted in dignity; as, a superior officer; a superior degree of nobility. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Higher or greater in excellence; surpassing others in the greatness, or value of any quality; greater in quality or degree; as, a man of superior merit; or of superior bravery. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Beyond the power or influence of; too great or firm to be subdued or affected by; -- with to. [ 1913 Webster ]

There is not in earth a spectacle more worthy than a great man superior to his sufferings. Spectator. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. More comprehensive; as a term in classification; as, a genus is superior to a species. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Bot.) (a) Above the ovary; -- said of parts of the flower which, although normally below the ovary, adhere to it, and so appear to originate from its upper part; also of an ovary when the other floral organs are plainly below it in position, and free from it. (b) Belonging to the part of an axillary flower which is toward the main stem; posterior. (c) Pointing toward the apex of the fruit; ascending; -- said of the radicle. [ 1913 Webster ]

Superior conjunction,
Superior planets, etc. See Conjunction, Planet, etc. --
Superior figure,
Superior letter (Print.), a figure or letter printed above the line, as a reference to a note or an index of a power, etc; as, in x2 + yn, 2 is a superior figure, n a superior letter. Cf. Inferior figure, under Inferior. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One who is above, or surpasses, another in rank, station, office, age, ability, or merit; one who surpasses in what is desirable; as, Addison has no superior as a writer of pure English. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Eccl.) The head of a monastery, convent, abbey, or the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Eccl.) A woman who acts as chief in a convent, abbey, or nunnery; a lady superior. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. supériorité, LL. superioritas. ] The quality, state, or condition of being superior; as, superiority of rank; superiority in merit. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Preeminence; excellence; predominancy; prevalence; ascendency; odds; advantage. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a superior position or manner. [ 1913 Webster ]