Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
- Pages
- 1,538
- Illustrations
- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Sū'per-fī'cial-ness, n. p. 1327The state of being superficial; shallowness; position on the surface. 2. Slight knowledge; shallowness of observation or learning; show without substance; sciolism.Sū'per-fī'ci-a-ry, n. p. 1327(Civil Law.) One to whom a right of surface is granted; one who pays quittent for a house built upon another man's ground. Burrill.Sū'per-fī'ci-a-ry, a. p. 1327(Civil Law.) Belonging, or relating, to the superficies or surface.Sū'per-fī'ciēs, n. p. 1327The surface; the exterior part or face of a thing. 2. (Civil Law.) Every thing on the surface of a piece of ground, or of a building, so closely connected by art or nature as to constitute a part of…Sū'per-fine, a. p. 1327Very fine, or most fine; surpassing others in fineness; as, superfine cloth.Sū'per-fine'ness, n. p. 1327The state or quality of being superfine.Su-pēr'flu-ence, n. p. 1327Superfluity; more than is necessary. [Obs. and rare.] Hammond.Sū'per-flū'i-tance, n. p. 1327The act of floating above or on the surface. [Obs.] Browne.Sū-per-flū'i-tant, a. p. 1327Floating above or on the surface. [Obs.] Browne.Sū'per-flū'i-ty, n. p. 1327A greater quantity than is wanted; superabundance; as, a superfluity of water or provisions. 2. The state of being superfluous; something that is beyond what is wanted; something rendered unnecessary…Su-pĕr'flu-ous, a. p. 1327More than is wanted or sufficient; rendered unnecessary by superabundance; unnecessary; useless; needless; excessive. “An authority which makes all further argument or illustration superfluous.” E.…Su-pêr'/flu-oüs-ly, adv. p. 1327In a superfluous manner; with excess; in a degree beyond what is necessary.Su-pêr'flu-ous-ness, n. p. 1327The state of being superfluous, or beyond what is wanted.Sū'per-flūx, n. p. 1327That which is more than is wanted; a superabundance or superfluity. [Rare.] But a second to yourself I never knew, To groan under the super-flux of blessings. Rowley.Sū'per-fō'li-ā'tion, n. p. 1327Excess of foliation. [Obs.] Browne.Sū'per-hēat, v. t. p. 1327(Steam-eng.) To heat, as steam, apart from contact with water, until it resembles a perfect gas. See STEAM.Sū'per-hēat'er, n. p. 1327(Steam-eng.) An apparatus for superheating steam.Sū'per-hū'man, a. p. 1327Above or beyond what is human; divine; as, superhuman strength.Sū'per-im-pōse', v. t. p. 1327To lay or impose on something else; as, a stratum of earth superimposed on another stratum.Sū'per-im'po-sĭ'tion, n. p. 1327The act of superimposing or laying, or the state of being superimposed on something else. Kirwan.Sū'per-im'preg-nā'tion, n. p. 1327The act of impregnating upon a prior impregnation; impregnation when previously impregnated; superfetation. Coxe.Sū/per-in-cūm'ben'ence or Sū/per-in-cūm'ben-cy, n. p. 1327The state of being superincumbent.Sū'per-in-cūm'bent, a. p. 1327Lying, or resting, on something else.Sū'per-in-dūçe', v. t. p. 1327To bring in, or upon, as an addition to something. Long custom of sinning superinduces upon the soul new and absurd desires. South.Sū'per-in-dūçe'ment, n. p. 1327Superinduction.Sū'per-in-dūc'tion, n. p. 1327The act of superinducing, or the state of being superinduced. The superinduction of ill habits quickly defaces the first rude draught of virtue. South.Sū'per-in-fūse', v. t. p. 1327To infuse over. [Rare.]Sū'per-in-jēe'tion, n. p. 1327An injection succeeding another.Sū/per-in-spĕct', v. t. p. 1327To oversee; to superintend by inspection. [Rare.]Sū/per-in'sti-tū'tion, n. p. 1327One institution upon another, as when A is instituted and admitted to a benefice upon a title, and B is instituted and admitted upon the presentation of another. Bailey.Sū'per-in'tel-lēct'ū-al, a. p. 1327Being above intellect.Sū'per-in-tĕnd', v. t. p. 1327To have or exercise the charge and oversight of; to oversee with the power of direction; to take care of with authority; as, an officer superintends the building of a ship or the construction of a…Sū'per-in-tĕnd'ençe or Sū'per-in-tĕnd'en-cy, n. p. 1327The act of superintending; care and oversight for the purpose of direction, and with authority to direct. Syn.—Inspection; oversight; care; direction; control; guidance.Sū'per-in-tēnd'ent, a. p. 1327Overseeing; superintending. Howell.Sū'per-in-tĕnd'ent, n. p. 1327One who has the oversight and charge of something, with the power of direction; as, the superintendent of an alms-house or work-house; the superintendent of public works; the superintendent of…Sū'per-in-tĕnd'er, n. p. 1327One who superintends; a superintendent. [Rare.] Whewell.Sū'per-in-vĕst'i-tūre, n. p. 1328An outer vestment or garment. [Rare.]Su-pē'ri-or, a. p. 1328More elevated in place; higher; upper; as, a superior limb of the sun; the superior part of an image. 2. Higher in rank or office; more exalted in dignity; as, a superior officer; a superior degree…Su-pē'ri-or, n. p. 1328One who is more advanced in age. 2. One who is more elevated in rank or office. 3. One who surpasses others in dignity, excellence, or qualities of any kind; as, Addison has no superior as a writer…Su-pē'ri-or-ess, n. p. 1328A woman who acts as chief in a convent, abbey, nunnery, or the like; a female superior. [Rare.]Sū-pē'ri-ŏr'i-ty, n. p. 1328The state or quality of being superior, more advanced, higher, greater, or more excellent than another in any respect; preëminence; excellence; as, superiority of age, of rank or dignity, of…Su-pē'ri-or-ly, adv. p. 1328In a superior manner.Sū'per-jā'cent, a. p. 1328Lying above; as, superjacent rocks.Sū'per-lā'tion, n. p. 1328Exaltation of any thing beyond truth or propriety. [Obs.] B. Jonson.Su-pēr'la-tīve, a. p. 1328Lifted up to the highest degree; most eminent; surpassing all other; supreme; as, a man of superlative wisdom or prudence; a woman of superlative beauty; the superlative glory of the divine…Su-pēr'la-tīve, n. p. 1328That which is highest or most eminent. 2. (Gram.) (a.) The degree of adjectives and adverbs which is formed by the termination est, as meanest, highest, bravest; or by the use of most, as most mean…Su-pĕr'la-tĭve-ly, adv. p. 1328In a superlative manner; in the highest or utmost degree.Su-pēr'la-tīve-ness, n. p. 1328The state of being superlative, or in the highest degree.Sū'per-lu-crā'tion, n. p. 1328Excessive or extraordinary gain. [Obs.] Davenant.Sū'per-lū'nar or Sū'per-lū'na-ry, a. p. 1328Being above the moon; not sublunary, or of this world. “The head that turns at superlunar things.” Pope.Sū'per-mē'di-al, a. p. 1328Lying or being above the middle.Sū'per-mōl'e-cūle, n. p. 1328A compounded molecule, or combination of two molecules of different substances. Prout.Sū'per-mūn'dāne, a. p. 1328Being above the world.Sū'per-mūn'di-al, a. p. 1328Supermundane. [Obs.]Sū'per-nāe'ti-lūm, n. p. 1328A kind of mock Latin term intended to mean upon the nail, used formerly by topers. Nares. Drinking super nagulum [supernaculum], a device of drinking, new come out of France, which is, after a man…Su-pĕr'nal, a. p. 1328Being in a higher place or region; locally higher; as, the supernal orbs; supernal regions. 2. Relating to things above; celestial; heavenly; as, supernal grace. “Not by the sufferance of supernal…Sū'per-nā'tant, a. p. 1328Swimming above; floating on the surface; as, oil supernatant on water.Sū'per-na-tā'tion, n. p. 1328The act of floating on the surface of a fluid.Sū'per-nāt'ū-ral, a. p. 1328Being beyond, or exceeding, the powers or laws of nature; miraculous. Syn.— Preternatural.— SUPERNATURAL, PRETERNATURAL. Preternatural signifies beside nature, and supernatural, above or beyond…Sū'per-nāt'ū-ral-īzm, n. p. 1328The state of being supernatural. 2. The doctrine of a divine and supernatural agency in the production of the miracles and revelations recorded in the Bible, and in the grace which renews and…