Su`per*fi"cies (?), n. [L., fr. super above, over + facies make,
figure, shape. See Surface.] 1. The surface; the exterior part,
superficial area, or face of a thing.
2. (Civil Law) (a) Everything 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 it, as houses, or other superstructures, fences, trees, vines,
etc. (b) A real right consisting of a grant by a landed proprietor of a
piece of ground, bearing a strong resemblance to the long building
leases granted by landholders in England, in consideration of a rent,
and under reservation of the ownership of the soil. Bouvier. Wharton.
Su"per*fine (?), a. 1. Very fine, or most fine; being of surpassing
fineness; of extra nice or fine quality; as, superfine cloth.
2. Excessively fine; too nice; over particular; as, superfine
distinctions; superfine tastes.
Su"per*fine`ness, n. The state of being superfine.
Su`per*fin"i*cal (?), a. Extremely finical.
Su*per"flu*ence (?), n. [L. superfluens, p. pr. of superfluere to flow
or run over. See Superfluous.] Superfluity. [Obs.] Hammond.
Su`per*flu"i*tant (?), a. [L. super above + fluitans, p. pr. of
fluitare intensive fr. fluere to flow.] Floating above or on the
surface. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne. -- Su`per*flu"i*tance (#), n. [Obs.]
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Su`per*flu"i*ty (?), n.; pl. Superfluities (#). [L. superfluité, L.
superfluitas. See Superfluous.] 1. A greater quantity than is wanted;
superabundance; as, a superfluity of water; a superfluity of wealth.
A quiet mediocrity is still to be preferred before a troubled
superfluity.
Suckling.
2. The state or quality of being superfluous; excess. "By a superfluity
abominable." Chaucer.
3. Something beyond what is needed; something which serves for show or
luxury.
Syn. -- Superabundance; excess; redundancy.
Su*per"flu*ous (?), a. [L. superfluus overflowing; super over, above +
fluere to flow. See Super-, and Fluent.] More than is wanted or is
sufficient; rendered unnecessary by superabundance; unnecessary;
useless; excessive; as, a superfluous price. Shak.
An authority which makes all further argument or illustration
superfluous.
E. Everett.
Superfluous interval (Mus.), an interval that exceeds a major or
perfect interval by a semitone.
Syn. -- Unnecessary; useless; exuberant; excessive; redundant;
needless.
-- Su*per"flu*ous*ly, adv. -- Su*per"flu*ous*ness, n.
Su"per*flux (?), n. Superabundance; superfluity; an overflowing. [R.]
Shak.
Su`per*fœ*ta"tion (?), n. Superfetation.
Su`per*fo`li*a"tion (?), n. Excess of foliation. Sir T. Browne.
Su`per*fron"tal (?), n. (Eccl.) A cloth which is placed over the top of
an altar, and often hangs down a few inches over the frontal.
Su`per*fuse" (?), a. To pour (something) over or on something else.
[Obs.] Evelyn.
Su`per*heat" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Superheated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Superheating.] 1. To heat too much, to overheat; as, to superheat an
oven.
2. (Steam Engine) To heat, as steam, apart from contact with water,
until it resembles a perfect gas.
Su"per*heat`, n. The increase of temperature communicated to steam by
superheating it.
Su"per*heat`er (?), n. (Steam Engine) An apparatus for superheating
steam.
Su"per*hive` (?), n. A removable upper part of a hive. The word is
sometimes contracted to super.
Su`per*hu"man (?), a. Above or beyond what is human; sometimes, divine;
as, superhuman strength; superhuman wisdom.
Su`per*im*pose" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Superimposed (?); p. pr. & vb.
n. Superimposing.] To lay or impose on something else; as, a stratum of
earth superimposed on another stratum. -- Su`per*im`po*si"tion (#), n.
Su`per*im`preg*na"tion (?), n. The act of impregnating, or the state of
being impregnated, in addition to a prior impregnation; superfetation.
{ Su`per*in*cum"bence (?), Su`per*in*cum"ben*cy (?), } n. The quality
or state of being superincumbent.
Su`per*in*cum"bent (?), a. [L. superincumbens, p. pr. of
superincumbere. See Super- , and Incumbent.] Lying or resting on
something else.
Su`per*in*duce" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Superinduced (?); p. pr. & vb.
n. Superinducing (?).] [Pref. super- + induce: cf. L. superinducere to
draw over.] To bring in, or upon, as an addition to something.
Long custom of sinning superinduces upon the soul new and absurd
desires.
South.
Su`per*in*duce"ment (?), n. Superinduction.
Su`per*in*duc"tion (?), n. The act of superinducing, or the state of
being superinduced. South.
Su`per*in*fuse" (?), v. t. [Pref. super- + infuse: cf. L.
superinfundere, superinfusum, to pour over.] To infuse over. [R.]
Su`per*in*jec"tion (?), n. An injection succeeding another.
Su`per*in*spect" (?), v. t. [Pref. super- + inspect: cf. L.
superinspicere, superinspectum.] To over see; to superintend by
inspection. [R.] Maydman.
Su`per*in`sti*tu"tion (?), n. One institution upon another, as when A
is instituted and admitted to a benefice upon a title, and B instituted
and admitted upon the presentation of another. Bailey.
Su`per*in`tel*lec"tu*al (?), a. Being above intellect.
Su`per*in*tend" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Superintended; p. pr. & vb. n.
Superintending.] [L. superintendere. See Super-, and Intend.] To have
or exercise the charge and oversight of; to oversee with the power of
direction; to take care of with authority; to supervise; as, an officer
superintends the building of a ship or the construction of a fort.
The king may appoint a council, who may superintend the works of
this nature.
Bacon.
Syn. -- Superintend, Supervise. These words in general use are the
synonymous. As sometimes used, supervise implies the more general, and
superintend, the more particular and constant, inspection or direction.
Among architects there is a disposition to use the word supervise in
the sense of a general oversight of the main points of construction
with reference to the design, etc., and to employ the word superintend
to signify a constant, careful attention to all the details of
construction. But this technical distinction is not firmly established.
Su`per*in*tend"ence (?), n. [Cf. F. superintendance.] The act of
superintending; care and oversight for the purpose of direction;
supervision. Barrow.
Syn. -- Inspection; oversight; care; direction; control; guidance.
Su`per*in*tend"en*cy (?), n.; pl. -cies (&?;). The act of
superintending; superintendence. Boyle.
Su`per*in*tend"ent (?), a. [L. superintendens, p. pr. See Superintend.]
Overseeing; superintending.
Su`per*in*tend"ent (?), n. [Cf. OF. superintendant, F. surintendant.
Cf. Surintendant.] One who has the oversight and charge of some place,
institution, or organization, affairs, etc., with the power of
direction; as, the superintendent of an almshouse; the superintendent
of public works.
Syn. -- Inspector; overseer; manager; director; curator; supervisor.