superior, a. and n.
(s(j)uːˈpɪərɪə(r))
Also 4–9 -iour, 6 -ioure, -your.
[a. OF. superior, -our (mod.F. supérieur) = It. superiore, Sp., Pg. superior, ad. L. superior, -ōrem, compar. of superus that is above, f. super above.]
A. adj.
1. Higher in local position; situated above or further up than something else; upper; † belonging to the upper regions, heavenly, celestial (obs.). Now chiefly in technical use: see senses 9–13.
| 1390 Gower Conf. I. 361 In Ynde the superiour. 1432–50 tr. Higden (Rolls) I. 127 Cedar is a region in the superior parte of Palestine. 1553 Eden Treat. Newe Ind. (Arb.) 24 The superiour or high India..is a region excedinge large. 1631 Massinger Emperor East i. ii, The motion, with the divers operations, Of the superior bodies. 1664 Power Exp. Philos. ii. 101 The superiour particles of the Ayr pressing the inferiour. 1709 V. Mandey Syst. Math., Arith. (1729) 21 Numerator, is the superior Term of the Fraction. 1712–14 Pope Rape Lock ii. 70 Amid the circle, on the gilded mast, Superior by the head, was Ariel plac't. 1799 Kirwan Geol. Ess. 380 All the superior earthy and stony matter having been swept away by floods. 1838 Lyell Elem. Geol. xii. 268 The relative age of the superior and inferior portions of the earth's crust. 1839 Murchison Silur. Syst. i. xxxiii. 441 The sandy flagstone..is, apparently, thrown unconformably against the superior formations. 1879 Cassell's Techn. Educ. I. 98/1 The superior course [in building]. |
b. in predicative use, quasi-adv.: In or into a higher position; higher; upward. poet.
| 1718 Prior Henry & Emma 113 When Superior now the Bird has flown, And headlong brought the tumbling Quarry down. 1718 Pope Iliad xiii. 41 He sits superior, and the chariot flies. 1807 J. Barlow Columb. vi. 271 Tall on the boldest bark superior shone A warrior ensign'd with a various crown. |
2. Preceding in time or serial order; earlier, former; † before-mentioned, above.
| 1534 Whitinton Tullyes Offices iii. (1540) 126 To the which selfe questyons and consultacyons of the superior bokes many thinges be suffyciently disputed. 1599 A. M. tr. Gabelhouer's Bk. Physicke 132/2 Adde..to the superiour potion a qu[arter] of an ownce of redd Roses. |
3. Higher in rank or dignity; more exalted in social or official status.
| 1485 Caxton Chas. Gt. 203 God hath..made the superyor in worldly puyssaunce aboue al other kynges. 1539 Tonstall Serm. Palm Sund. (1823) 37 For who is superiour? he that sytteth at the table, or he that serueth at the table? is not he superiour that sytteth? 1558 C. Goodman (title) How Superior Powers oght to be obeyd of their subiects. 1671 Milton P.R. iv. 167 If thou wilt fall down, And worship me as thy superior Lord. 1726 Ayliffe Parergon 72 This kind of an Appeal..transfers the Cognizance of the Cause to the Superiour Judge. 1760 Caut. & Adv. Off. Army 149 Putting so palpable an Affront on his superior Officer. 1837 Carlyle Fr. Rev. i. v. ix, He says he obeyed superior orders. 1875 Maine Hist. Instit. iv. 102 Superior ownership has arisen through..purchase from small allodial proprietors. |
b. Father Superior or Mother Superior: = B. 2.
| 1706 Phillips (ed. Kersey) s.v., The chief Governour or Governess of a Monastery, otherwise call'd Superiour Father, or Superiour Mother. 1846 A. Marsh Father Darcy II. xi. 187 A feeling upon which the Father Superior calculated with security. 1907 [see mother n.1 3 b]. |
4. Higher in ideal or abstract rank, or in a scale or series; of a higher nature or character. Sometimes contextually or by implication: Supernatural, superhuman.
| 1533 More Answ. Poysoned Bk. i. xi. 40 b, As we say a man is obedyent vnto his owne reason, and yet is not his owne reason another power superiour aboue hym selfe. 1634 Milton Comus 801, I feel that I do fear Her words set off by some superior power. 1646 Crashaw Name above every Name 95 May it be no wrong, Blest heav'ns, to you, and your superior song, That [etc.]. 1660 R. Coke Justice Vind. Ep. Ded. 7 Conscience..supposes some superior law informing men to do, or not do a thing. 1704 in Pa. Hist. Soc. Mem. IX. 350 There is a general infatuation, as if by a superior influence, got among us. 1725 De Foe Voy. round World (1840) 154 Those people who have any notion of a God must represent him to themselves as something superior. 1726 Butler Serm. Rolls Chap. iii. 45 The several Passions being naturally subordinate to the one superior Principle of Reflection and Conscience. 1871 B. Stewart Heat (ed. 2) §26 The superior limit of the mercurial thermometer's accurate employment. |
† b. In theological or religious use, applied to the soul or the spirit. Obs.
| 1638 Rouse Heav. Univ. (1702) 162 While my superior mind breatheth and longeth after Thee. 1663 Patrick Parab. Pilgr. xxxii. (1687) 395 It is an holy, chast and innocent pleasure..which riseth higher than sense, and seeks the superiour part. a 1700 in Cath. Rec. Soc. Publ. IX. 342 Keeping herself united to him..whome she possessed in her superior wil and soule, in solitude. 1745 A. Butler Lives Saints, S. Jane Frances (1821) VIII. 296 She laboured..to gain..an absolute ascendant of the superior part of her soul over the inferior. |
c. Logic. Having greater extension.
| 1843 Mill Logic i. vii. §3 Biped is a genus with reference to man and bird, but a species with respect to the superior genus, animal. 1864 Bowen Logic iv. 87 Of any two Concepts in such a series, that one is called the Superior, Higher, or Broader, which has the greater Extension. |
5. Higher in degree, amount, quality, importance, or other respect; of greater value or consideration.
| 1579–1642 [see 6 a]. 1702 Rowe Tamerl. i. ii, Nations unknown Shall..Bend to his Valour, and Superior Virtue. 1708 Swift Sacram. Test Wks. 1755 II. i. 127 When they are the superior number in any tract of ground, they are not over patient of mixture. 1756 Burke Subl. & Beaut. Introd., Wks. 1842 I. 27 That the critical taste does not depend upon a superiour principle in men, but upon superiour knowledge. 1798 Hull Advertiser 14 Apr. 2/4 She escaped by superior sailing. 1816 Scott Old Mort. xxxi, It might be easily defended against a very superior force. 1827 Faraday Chem. Manip. xv. (1842) 350 The air will enter into the gasometer, being forced inwards by the superior external pressure. 1883 Ld. Blackburn in Law Rep. 8 App. Cases 462 Those who sought to turn the man in possession out must shew a superior legal title to his. |
6. Const. to († occas. with, than). a. Higher in status or quality than; hence, greater or better than; † formerly also advb. = more or better than, above, beyond.
| 1526 Pilgr. Perf. iii. i. x. 32 b, Pride saithe to euery persone..dispyce all other,..thou oughtest to be superiour to them all. 1579 Lyly Euphues (Arb.) 190 In the one thou art inferiour to al men, in the other superior to al beasts. c 1611 Chapman Iliad xx. 383, I..well know, thy strength superiour farre, To that my nerues hold. 1632 Lithgow Trav. viii. 369 A City..farre superior in greatnesse with Aleppo. 1642 Jer. Taylor Episc. xi. 60 The Apostles..were Superior to the 72. 1757 W. Wilkie Epigoniad i. 25 Who arms the first, and first to combat goes, Tho' weaker, seems superior to his foes. 1784 T. Coke Serm. Ordin. F. Asbury 27 Dec. (1785) 14 note, An Officer of the Church superior to the Presbyters. 1796 Mrs. J. West Gossip's Story I. 218 He behaves to me with yet superiour esteem and respect, than when he was at Stannadine. 1830 Scott Monast. Introd., A being, however superior to man in length of life. 1857 Kingsley Two Y. Ago xv, He seems so superior to the people round him. 1907 Verney Mem. I. 269 He was..superior in numbers to the enemy. |
| advb. 1762 Goldsm. Cit. W. l, It is to this ductility of the laws that an Englishman owes the freedom he enjoys superior to others. 1785 G. A. Bellamy Apol. (ed. 3) I. 45, I loved his Lordship superior to the whole world. |
b. Too great or strong to be overcome or affected by; not mastered by; above the influence or reach of.
| 1647 Clarendon Hist. Reb. i. §88 Jealousy of his Master's honour, (to whom his Fidelity was Superior to any temptation). 1700 Prior Written in Robe's Geogr. 11 That I may Read, and Ride, and Plant, Superior to Desire, or Want. 1775 J. Bryant Mythol. II. 393 The crocodile, and Hippopotamus, were emblems of the Ark; because during the inundation of the Nile they rose with the waters, and were superior to the flood. 1791 Mrs. Radcliffe Rom. Forest viii, Adeline was superior to the affectation of fear. 1804–5 Wordsw. Prelude vi. 137 The one Supreme Existence,..to the boundaries of space and time..Superior. 1821 Scott Kenilw. xiv, To that foible even she was not superior. 1863 Mrs. Oliphant Salem Chapel ii. 36 So strangely superior to her surroundings, yet not despising or quarrelling with them. |
| advb. 1804 E. de Acton Tale without Title II. 100 If there are any who wish to act superior to that last-mentioned very useful endowment. |
c. Transcending, on a higher plane than.
| 1841 Myers Cath. Th. iii. §7. 22 Human thought is always superiour to its expression. 1865 Lecky Ration. (1878) II. 29 A bond of unity that is superior to the divisions of nationhood. |
7. Characteristic of one who is superior (in senses 3 and 4); also, from sense 6 b, ‘free from emotion or concern; unconquered; unaffected’ (J.). poet. or rhet.
| 1667 Milton P.L. iv. 499 He in delight Both of her Beauty and submissive Charms Smil'd with superior Love. Ibid. v. 902 Hostile scorn, which he susteind Superior, nor of violence fear'd aught. Ibid. viii. 532 Here passion first I felt,..in all enjoyments else Superiour and unmov'd. 1718 Pope Iliad xiv. 387 She ceas'd, and smiling with superior Love, Thus answer'd mild the Cloud-compelling Jove. 1742 ― Dunc. iv. 105 There mov'd Montalto with superior air. 1746 Hervey Medit. (1818) 40 With a wise indifference, if not with a superior disdain! 1819 Shelley Cenci ii. i. 117 Never again..with fearless eye, And brow superior..Shalt thou strike dumb the meanest of mankind. |
b. Applied ironically to persons of lofty, supercilious, or dictatorial manner or behaviour (or to their actions, etc.).
| 1864 Disraeli Sp. Ho. Comm. 8 July, In private life there is always..some person,..who is regarded as a superior person. They decide on everything, they lecture everybody... The right hon. member for Stroud is the ‘superior person’ of the House of Commons. 1890 Daily News 4 Oct. 5/1 He gave himself airs of affectation. He was superior. 1897 A. D. Innes Macaulay's Ld. Clive 128 note, The ‘superior’ person who posed as an authority on matters of culture. 1902 Wister Virginian xviii, One or two people I have knowed..never said a superior word to me. |
c. advb. In a superior style; with a superior air.
| 1716 Pope Iliad v. 517 The Sire of Gods and Men superior smil'd [µείδησεν]. 1815 Jane Austen Emma xxvi, Jane Fairfax did look and move superior. 1894 S. Fiske Holiday Stories (1900) 129, I no longer smiled superior upon Paddy from Cork. |
8. In a positive or absolute sense (admitting comparison with more and most): Supereminent in degree, amount, or (most commonly) quality; surpassing the generality of its class or kind.
| 1777 Sheridan Sch. Scand. i. i, A person of your ladyship's superior accomplishments and understanding. 1812 Sir H. Davy Chem. Philos. 3 A species of air that supports flame in a superior degree. 1854 Thackeray Wolves & Lamb i. (1899) 23 What a woman she was—what a superior creature! 1888 M. E. Braddon Fatal Three i. iii, They were altogether superior people for their class. 1888 ‘J. S. Winter’ Bootle's Childr. x, Sadly in need of a superior needle⁓woman! 1891 ― Lumley i, Let me give you a little more of the mayonnaise,..it's very superior. |
9. Astron. a. Applied to those planets whose orbits lie outside that of the earth (originally, according to the Ptolemaic astronomy, as having their spheres above that of the sun). b. superior conjunction: see conjunction 3. c. superior meridian: that part of the celestial meridian which lies above the pole: so superior passage (of the meridian), etc.
| 1583 R. Harvey (title) An Astrological Discourse vpon the great and notable Coniunction of the two superiour Planets, Satvrne & Ivpiter. 1690 Leybourn Curs. Math. 751 The Motion of the Superiour Planets. 1786–7 Bonnycastle Astron. 435 Superior Planets, are those which move at a farther distance from the sun than the earth, and are Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and the Georgium Sidus. 1833 Herschel Astron. viii. 253 The superior conjunction will happen when the earth arrives at D, and the planet at d in the same line prolonged on the other side of the sun. 1834 M. Somerville Connex. Phys. Sci. xiv. 112 The rotation of the earth brings the same point twice under the meridian of the moon in [a day], once under the superior, and once under the inferior, meridian. 1839 Moseley Astron. xvi. 58 Let the altitude of the star be observed when it is on the meridian..at what is called its superior passage. |
10. Bot. Growing above some other part or organ: said of the ovary when situated above or free from the (inferior) calyx, and of the calyx when adherent to the sides of the (inferior) ovary so that the calyx-lobes are above the ovary.
Also occas. applied to those parts of an axillary flower which lie nearest to the axis (= posterior) and to a radicle when directed towards the apex of the fruit (= ascending).
| 1785 Martyn Lett. Bot. v. (1794) 52 Such are called superior flowers, as being above the germ. Ibid. xvi. 172 Having..a capsule for a seed-vessel, superior or inclosed within the calyx. 1796 Withering Brit. Plants (ed. 3) II. 396 Chrysosplenium... Calyx superiour. 1845 Lindley Sch. Bot. (1862) 13 In many cases the calyx is united to the surface of the pistil..and is then called superior or adherent. 1849 Balfour Man. Bot. §357 If a whorl of the flower consists of four parts, that which is turned towards the floral axis is called superior or posterior. 1861 Bentley Man. Bot. 318 The Samara is a superior, two or more celled fruit. Ibid. 351 The radicle is said to be superior or ascending..when it is directed towards the apex of the pericarp. |
11. Anat. and Zool. Applied to parts or organs situated above, or in a higher position than, others of the same kind (distinguished as inferior), or above the usual or normal position.
| 1733 G. Douglas tr. Winslow's Anat. i. ii. §14 (1756) I. 39 The superior Conchæ of the Ethmoidal Bone. Ibid. 75 At the superior and anterior part of the Thorax, between the Scapula and the sternum. 1815 Stephens in Shaw's Gen. Zool. IX. i. 44 All the feathers of the superior parts of the body. 1826 Kirby & Sp. Entomol. IV. 314 Eyes..Superior..when they are placed in the upper part of the head. Ibid. 335 Superior, the anterior wings are so denominated if when at rest they are placed upon the posterior wings. 1831–2 Lancet II. 119/2 The superior angle of the bifurcation of the carotid and subclavian. 1840 E. Wilson Anat. Vade M. (1842) 33 The superior Maxillary are the largest bones of the face, with the exception of the lower jaw. 1881 Mivart Cat 72 The superior meatus of the nose. |
12. Printing. Applied to small letters or figures, or other characters, made to range above the line, at or near the top of the ordinary letters.
| 1683 Moxon Mech. Exerc., Printing 391 Superiour Letters, are often set to Marginal Notes. 1770 Luckombe Hist. Printing 257 Superior Letters, or else Superior Figures..were originally..intended to be employed in Matter that is explained by Notes. 1847 F. Madden Laȝamon's Brut III. 657 Instead of brackets, superior commas should have been used. |
13. Fortif. superior slope: the inclined upper surface of the parapet.
| 1852 Burn Naval & Milit. Dict. (1863) s.v. 1892 G. Philips Text Bk. Fortification, etc. (ed. 5) 60. |
B. n.
1. A person of higher rank or dignity; one who is above another or others in social or official station; esp. a superior officer or official. (Commonly with possessive pronoun.)
| 1483 Caxton Gold. Leg., Adam §6 Lyke as they were inobedyent to theyr superyor, ryght soo theyr membres began to meue ayenst theyr superior. 1502 W. Atkynson tr. De Imitatione iii. xiv. (1893) 209 Lerne thou to obey gladlye to thy superior. 1558 Extr. Rec. Burgh Peebles (1872) 252 The difference..was referrit to tuelf burgessis..and my lord Yester..superiour. 1565 Harding Confut. Apol. Ch. Eng. 190 The Bishop of Rome..in spirituall causes can haue no superiour. 1617 Moryson Itin. i. 170 The Archbishop thereof long time challenged the Primacie in the Italian Church, neuer acknowledging the Bishop of Rome for superiour. 1659 Hammond On Ps. i. 1 The Rebukes and Censures of Superiours. 1760 Caut. & Adv. Off. Army 9 A brisk, alert young Man, who makes it his Study to know, and his Pleasure to perform his Duty, cannot fail of attracting the Regard and Recommendation of his Superiors. 1781 Cowper Charity 275 While conscience..Owns no superior but the God she fears. 1786 Burke Art. agst. W. Hastings xx. Wks. 1813 XII. 20 For which I was responsible to my King, and the Company my immediate ‘superiours’. 1817 Parr Wks. (1828) VII. 257 In respectful conformity to the commands of my ecclesiastical superiors. 1844 [G. R. Gleig] Light Dragoon xxv, Our superiors may think as they please,—but we, who fill up the ranks of the British army, know [etc.]. 1876 J. Grant Burgh Sch. Scot. ii. ii. 128 It is unpleasant for a teacher to be opposed to his patrons and superiors. |
2. The head of a community of religious (a monastery, nunnery, convent, abbey, etc.); also, the head of a religious order or congregation (more fully, superior-general) or of a department of it.
| 1497 Bp. Alcock Mons Perfect. c iij b/1 But & he be inobedyent to his superyor than he is no monke but a deuyl. 1582 Allen Martyrd. Father Campion (1908) 6 So making his choise of the societie of the name of Jesus, he went to Rome, where by the superior of that order he was admitted. 1585 T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. iii. xvii. 102 b, A generall chapter or assembly, in which their Priour or Superiour is president. 1621 Eng. Prot. Plea for Eng. Priests & Papists 61 The supposed guiltines of M. Garnet, superior of the Iesuits here at that time. a 1700 Evelyn Diary 4 Nov. 1644, A Benedictine monke and Superior of his Order for the English College of Douay. 1775 in C. Butler Hist. Mem. Engl. Cath. lxxv. §9 (1821) IV. 353 The society of Jesus, of which I was superior-general. 1844 A. P. de Lisle in E. Purcell Life (1900) I. vii. 118 After dinner the Superior of the Passionist Monks called upon us. 1850 A. Jameson Leg. Monast. Ord. (1863) 21 Benedict, being chosen Superior of the monastery near Subiaco. 1883 Encycl. Brit. XVI. 709/1 The founder in 1115 entrusted the superior-generalship of the whole institute to the abbess of the nuns. 1897 E. L. Taunton Engl. Black Monks II. 301 note, They were united into one congregation, with the abbess of Fontevraud as superior-general. |
† b. gen. A governor; a superintendent. Obs.
| 1554 W. Prat Aphrique G j b, There is gyuen to theym an other superior by the Cytizens. 1585 T. Washington tr. Nicholay's Voy. iii. x. 90 Ouer these two kitchins..are set and ordained foure superiours. |
3. Feudal Law. One who (or the successor of one who) has granted an estate of heritable property to another (termed the vassal) on condition of the annual payment of a certain sum or the performance of certain services.
| 1538 Starkey England (1878) 114 Yf a man dye..leuyng hys heyre wythin age, hys landys fal in to the handys of the sayd superyor and lord. 1561 Abst. Protocols Town Clerks Glasgow (1896) III. 3 David Bruce..resignit,..and ouregaif in the handis of Robert Callendar..his superior, all and haile ane pece of the Mayneis of B. 1567 Reg. Privy Council Scot. Ser. i. I. 540 The giftis of wardis..falland..in oure said sonnis handis as superiour thairof. 1689 in Acts Parlt. Scot. (1875) XII. 74/1 The forfaultors of vassells and cre[dito]rs..who shall be innocent of þair superiors or debitors crymes. 1710 in Nairne Peerage Evidence (1874) 45 Our immediat lawfull superiors of the said lands. 1753 J. Dalrymple Ess. Feudal Property (ed. 2) 46 In the origin of the feudal law in Europe, the gift which the vassal on his entry gave to the superior, consisted of armour. 1882 Encycl. Brit. XIV. 264/1 Each owner who holds of the sovereign may grant a subordinate estate to be held of himself as ‘superior’ or lord. |
b. subject superior: a superior who holds as subject of a sovereign.
| 1734 Treat. Orig. & Progress of Fees 34 Such Charters are granted by the Sovereign only, and by no Subject Superior. a 1768 Erskine Inst. Law Scot. ii. vii. §6 (1773) 281 In lands holden of subject-superiors. 1882 Encycl. Brit. XIV. 264/1 The means of commuting the services they had bound themselves to pay to the ‘subject superior’, and of converting themselves into direct vassals of the crown. |
4. A person, or (less commonly) a thing, of higher quality or value than another; one that excels another in some respect. (Commonly with genitive pronoun or of.)
| 1634 Ford Perk. Warbeck i. ii, I am confident Thou wilt proportion all thy thoughts to side Thy equals, if not equal thy superiors. 1681 J. Scott Chr. Life i. iii. §3. (1684) 168 To honour those that are our Superiours whether in Place or Virtue. 1715 Pope Iliad ii. 722 Dorion,..Superiour once of all the tuneful race. 1807 Crabbe Par. Reg. iii. 444 None his superior, and his equals few. 1875 Jowett Plato (ed. 2) IV. 231 No one is the superior of the invincible Socrates in argument. 1911 Petrie Revol. Civilis. iii. 54 The period of art which is the rival, if not the superior, of the classical age. |
† 5. Astron. A superior planet: see A. 9 a. Obs.
| 1679 Moxon Math. Dict. s.v. Postventional, Before or after any great Conjunction of the Superiors. Ibid., Superiors, Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars, are called so..because their Orbs are above the Sun. |
† 6. Arith. A number or figure standing above another. Obs. rare.
| 1709 V. Mandey Syst. Math., Arith. (1729) 68 Subtract the Multiplied from its Superior. |
7. Printing. A superior letter or figure: see A. 12.
| 1726 S. Lowe Lat. Gram. Notes 1 The superior letters in parentheses answer to superiors in the grammar. 1770 Luckombe Hist. Printing 258 Superiors of the smallest size are..inconvenient to the Reader. 1882 J. Southward Pract. Printing (1884) 17 For use in algebraic..works small letters are cast upon the upper part of the shank. These are called superiors. |