Chapter CDXLII: Prologue (93)

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.

SUPERFINENESS Su"per*fine`ness, n.

Defn: The state of being superfine.

SUPERFINICAL Su`per*fin"i*cal, a.

Defn: Extremely finical.

SUPERFLUENCE Su*per"flu*ence, n. Etym: [L. superfluens, p.pr. of superfluere to flow or run over. See Superfluous.]

Defn: Superfluity. [Obs.] Hammond.

SUPERFLUITANT Su`per*flu"i*tant, a. Etym: [L. super above + fluitans, p.pr. of fluitare intensive fr. fluere to flow.]

Defn: Floating above or on the surface. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne. -- Su`per*flu"i*tance, n. [Obs.]

SUPERFLUITY Su`per*flu"i*ty, n.; pl. Superfluities. Etym: [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.

SUPERFLUOUS Su*per"flu*ous, a. Etym: [L. superfluus overflowing; super over, above + fluere to flow. See Super-, and Fluent.]

Defn: 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.

SUPERFLUX Su"per*flux, n.

Defn: Superabundance; superfluity; an overflowing. [R.] Shak.

SUPERFOETATION Su`per*foe*ta"tion, n.

Defn: Superfetation.

SUPERFOLIATION Su`per*fo`li*a"tion, n.

Defn: Excess of foliation. Sir T. Browne.

SUPERFRONTAL Su`per*fron"tal, n. (Eccl.)

Defn: A cloth which is placed over the top of an altar, and often hangs down a few inches over the frontal.

SUPERFUSE Su`per*fuse", a.

Defn: To pour (something) over or on something else. [Obs.] Evelyn.

SUPERHEAT 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)

Defn: To heat, as steam, apart from contact with water, until it resembles a perfect gas.

SUPERHEAT Su"per*heat`, n.

Defn: The increase of temperature communicated to steam by superheating it.

SUPERHEATER Su"per*heat`er, n. (Steam Engine)

Defn: An apparatus for superheating steam.

SUPERHIVE Su"per*hive`, n.

Defn: A removable upper part of a hive. The word is sometimes contracted to super.

SUPERHUMAN Su`per*hu"man, a.

Defn: Above or beyond what is human; sometimes, divine; as, superhuman strength; superhuman wisdom.

SUPERIMPOSE Su`per*im*pose", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Superimposed; p. pr. & vb. n. Superimposing.]

Defn: To lay or impose on something else; as, a stratum of earth superimposed on another stratum. -- Su`per*im`po*si"tion, n.

SUPERIMPREGNATION Su`per*im`preg*na"tion, n.

Defn: The act of impregnating, or the state of being impregnated, in addition to a prior impregnation; superfetation.

SUPERINCUMBENCE; SUPERINCUMBENCY Su`per*in*cum"bence, Su`per*in*cum"ben*cy, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being superincumbent.

SUPERINCUMBENT Su`per*in*cum"bent, a. Etym: [L. superincumbens, p.pr. of superincumbere. See Super-, and Incumbent.]

Defn: Lying or resting on something else.

SUPERINDUCE Su`per*in*duce", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Superinduced; p. pr. & vb. n. Superinducing.] Etym: [Pref. super- + induce: cf. L. superinducere to draw over.]

Defn: To bring in, or upon, as an addition to something. Long custom of sinning superinduces upon the soul new and absurd desires. South.

SUPERINDUCEMENT Su`per*in*duce"ment, n.

Defn: Superinduction.

SUPERINDUCTION Su`per*in*duc"tion, n.

Defn: The act of superinducing, or the state of being superinduced. South.

SUPERINFUSE Su`per*in*fuse", v. t. Etym: [Pref. super- + infuse: cf. L. superinfundere, superinfusum, to pour over.]

Defn: To infuse over. [R.]

SUPERINJECTION Su`per*in*jec"tion, n.

Defn: An injection succeeding another.

SUPERINSPECT Su`per*in*spect", v. t. Etym: [Pref. super- + inspect: cf. L. superinspicere, superinspectum.]

Defn: To over see; to superintend by inspection. [R.] Maydman.

SUPERINSTITUTION Su`per*in`sti*tu"tion, n.

Defn: 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.

SUPERINTELLECTUAL Su`per*in`tel*lec"tu*al, a.

Defn: Being above intellect.

SUPERINTEND Su`per*in*tend", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Superintended; p. pr. & vb. n. Superintending.] Etym: [L. superintendere. See Super-, and Intend.]

Defn: 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.

SUPERINTENDENCE Su`per*in*tend"ence, n. Etym: [Cf. F. superintendance.]

Defn: The act of superintending; care and oversight for the purpose of direction; supervision. Barrow.

Syn. -- Inspection; oversight; care; direction; control; guidance.

SUPERINTENDENCY Su`per*in*tend"en*cy, n.; pl. -cies (.

Defn: The act of superintending; superintendence. Boyle.

SUPERINTENDENT Su`per*in*tend"ent, a. Etym: [L. superintendens, p.pr. See Superintend.]

Defn: Overseeing; superintending.

SUPERINTENDENT Su`per*in*tend"ent, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. superintendant, F. surintendant. Cf. Surintendant.]

Defn: 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.

SUPERINTENDER Su`per*in*tend"er, n.

Defn: A superintendent. [R.]

SUPERINVESTITURE Su`per*in*vest"i*ture, n.

Defn: An outer vestment or garment. [R.] Bp. Horne.

SUPERIOR Su*pe"ri*or, a. Etym: [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.

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

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.

4. Beyond the power or influence of; too great or firm to be subdued or affected by; -- with to. There is not in earth a spectacle more worthy than a great man superior to his sufferings. Spectator.

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

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. 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.

SUPERIOR Su*pe"ri*or, 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.

2. (Eccl.)

Defn: The head of a monastery, convent, abbey, or the like.

SUPERIORESS Su*pe"ri*or*ess, n. (Eccl.)

Defn: A woman who acts as chief in a convent, abbey, or nunnery; a lady superior.

SUPERIORITY Su*pe`ri*or"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. supériorité, LL. superioritas.]

Defn: The quality, state, or condition of being superior; as, superiority of rank; superiority in merit.

Syn. -- Preëminence; excellence; predominancy; prevalence; ascendency; odds; advantage.

SUPERIORLY Su*pe"ri*or*ly, adv.

Defn: In a superior position or manner.

SUPERJACENT Su`per*ja"cent, a. Etym: [L. superjacens, p.pr. of superjacere; super above + jacere to lie.]

Defn: Situated immediately above; as, superjacent rocks.

SUPERLATION Su`per*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. superlatio. See Superlative.]

Defn: Exaltation of anything beyond truth or propriety. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

SUPERLATIVE Su`per*la"tive, a. Etym: [L. superlativus, fr. superlatus excessive, used as p.p. of superiorferre, but from a different root: cf. F. superlatif. See Elate, Tolerate.]

1. Lifted up to the highest degree; most eminent; surpassing all other; supreme; as, superlative wisdom or prudence; a woman of superlative beauty; the superlative glory of the divine character.

2. (Gram.)

Defn: Expressing the highest or lowest degree of the quality, manner, etc., denoted by an adjective or an adverb. The superlative degree is formed from the positive by the use of -est, most, or least; as, highest, most pleasant, least bright. -- Su`per*la"tive*ly, adv. -- Su`per*la"tive*ness, n.

SUPERLATIVE Su`per*la"tive, n.

1. That which is highest or most eminent; the utmost degree.

2. (Gram.) (a) The superlative degree of adjectives and adverbs; also, a form or word by which the superlative degree is expressed; as, strongest, wisest, most stormy, least windy, are all superlatives. Absolute superlative, a superlative in an absolute rather than in a comparative or exclusive sense. See Elative.

SUPERLUCRATION Su`per*lu*cra"tion, n. Etym: [Pref. super- + L. lucratio gain.]

Defn: Excessive or extraordinary gain. [Obs.] Davenant.

SUPERLUNAR; SUPERLUNARY Su`per*lu"nar, Su`per*lu"na*ry, a.

Defn: Being above the moon; not belonging to this world; -- opposed to sublunary. The head that turns at superlunar things. Pope.

SUPERMAN Su"per*man`, n.

Defn: = Overman, above.

SUPERMATERIAL Su`per*ma*te"ri*al, a.

Defn: Being above, or superior to, matter.

SUPERMAXILLA Su`per*max*il"la, n. Etym: [NL. See Super-, and Maxilla.] (Anat.)

Defn: The supermaxilla.

SUPERMAXILLARY Su`per*max"il*la*ry, a. (Anat.)

Defn: Supermaxillary.

SUPERMEDIAL Su`per*me"di*al, a.

Defn: Above the middle.

SUPERMUNDANE Su`per*mun"dane, a.

Defn: Being above the world; -- opposed to inframundane. Cudworth.

SUPERMUNDIAL Su`per*mun"di*al, a.

Defn: Supermundane. [Obs.]

SUPERNACULAR Su`per*nac"u*lar, a.

Defn: Like supernaculum; first-rate; as, a supernacular wine. [R.] Thackeray.

SUPERNACULUM Su`per*nac"u*lum, adv. & n. Etym: [NL., from L. super over + G. nagel, a nail, as of the finger, or a corruption of L. super and ungulam claw.]

1. A 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 hath turned up the bottom of the cup, to drop it on his nail and make a pearl with that is left; which if it slide, and he can not make it stand on by reason there is too much, he must drink again for his penance. Nash.

2. Good liquor, of which not enough is left to wet one's nail. Grose.

SUPERNAL Su*per"nal, a. Etym: [L. supernus, from super above: cf. F. supernel. See Super-.]

1. Being in a higher place or region; locally higher; as, the supernal orbs; supernal regions. "That supernal judge." Shak.

2. Relating or belonging to things above; celestial; heavenly; as, supernal grace. Not by the sufferance of supernal power. Milton.

SUPERNATANT Su`per*na"tant, a. Etym: [L. supernatanus, p.pr. of supernatare to swim above; super above + natare to swim.]

Defn: Swimming above; floating on the surface; as, oil supernatant on water. SUPERNATANT Su`per*na"tant, n. (Chem.)

Defn: The liquid remaining after solids suspended in a liquid have been sedimented by gravity or by centrifugation. Contrasted with the solid sediment, or (in centrifugation) the pellet.

SUPERNATATION Su`per*na*ta"tion, n.

Defn: The act of floating on the surface of a fluid. Sir T. Browne.

SUPERNATURAL Su`per*nat"u*ral, a. Etym: [Pref. super- + natural: cf. OF. supernaturel, F. surnaturel.]

Defn: Being beyond, or exceeding, the power or laws of nature; miraculous.

Syn. -- Preternatural. -- Supernatural, Preternatural. Preternatural signifies beside nature, and supernatural, above or beyond nature. What is very greatly aside from the ordinary course of things is preternatural; what is above or beyond the established laws of the universe is supernatural. The dark day which terrified all Europe nearly a century ago was preternatural; the resurrection of the dead is supernatural. "That form which the earth is under at present is preternatural, like a statue made and broken again." T. Burnet. "Cures wrought by medicines are natural operations; but the miraculous ones wrought by Christ and his apostles were supernatural." Boyle. That is supernatural, whether it be, that is either not in the chain of natural cause and effect, or which acts on the chain of cause and effect in nature, from without the chain. Bushnell. We must not view creation as supernatural, but we do look upon it as miraculous. McCosh. The supernatural, whatever is above and beyond the scope, or the established course, of the laws of nature. "Nature and the supernatural." H. Bushnell.

SUPERNATURALISM Su`per*nat"u*ral*ism, n.

1. The quality or state of being supernatural; supernaturalness.

2. (Theol.)

Defn: 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 sanctifies men, -- in opposition to the doctrine which denies the agency of any other than physical or natural causes in the case. [Written also supranaturalism.]

SUPERNATURALIST Su`per*nat"u*ral*ist, n.

Defn: One who holds to the principles of supernaturalism.

SUPERNATURALISTIC Su`per*nat`u*ral*is"tic, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to supernaturalism.

SUPERNATURALITY Su`per*nat`u*ral"i*ty, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being supernatural.

SUPERNATURALIZE Su`per*nat"u*ral*ize, v. t.

Defn: To treat or regard as supernatural.

SUPERNATURALLY Su`per*nat"u*ral*ly, adv.

Defn: In a supernatural manner.

SUPERNATURALNESS Su`per*nat"u*ral*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being supernatural.

SUPERNUMERARY Su`per*nu"mer*a*ry, a. Etym: [L. supernumerarius: cf. OF. supernuméraire, F. surnuméraire. See Super-, and Numerary, Number.]

1. Exceeding the number stated or prescribed; as, a supernumerary officer in a regiment.

2. Exceeding a necessary, usual, or required number or quality; superfluous; as, supernumerary addresses; supernumerary expense. Addison.

SUPERNUMERARY Su`per*nu"mer*a*ry, n.; pl. Supernumeraries (.

1. A person or thing beyond the number stated.

2. A person or thing beyond what is necessary or usual; especially, a person employed not for regular service, but only to fill the place of another in case of need; specifically, in theaters, a person who is not a regular actor, but is employed to appear in a stage spectacle.

SUPEROCCIPITAL Su`per*oc*cip"i*tal, a.

Defn: Supraoccipital.

SUPERORDER Su`per*or"der, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A group intermediate in importance between an order and a subclass.

SUPERORDINATION Su`per*or`di*na"tion, n. Etym: [Pref. super- + ordination: cf. L. superordinatio.]

Defn: The ordination of a person to fill a station already occupied; especially, the ordination by an ecclesiastical official, during his lifetime, of his successor. Fuller.

SUPEROXIDE Su`per*ox"ide, n. (Chem.)

Defn: See Peroxide. [Obs.]

SUPERPARTICULAR Su`per*par*tic"u*lar, a. Etym: [L. superparticularis. See Super-, and Particular.] (Math.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to a ratio when the excess of the greater term over the less is a unit, as the ratio of 1 to 2, or of 3 to 4. [Obs.] Hutton.

SUPERPARTIENT Su`per*par"tient, a. Etym: [L. superpartiens; super over + partiens, p.pr. of partire to divide.] (Math.)

Defn: Of or pertaining to a ratio when the excess of the greater term over the less is more than a unit, as that of 3 to 5, or 7 to 10. [Obs.] Hutton.

SUPERPHOSPHATE Su`per*phos"phate, n. (Chem.)

Defn: An acid phosphate. Superphosphate of lime (Com. Chem.), a fertilizer obtained by trating bone dust, bone black, or phosphorite with sulphuric acid, whereby the insoluble neutral calcium phosphate, Ca3(PO4)2, is changed to the primary or acid calcium phosphate Ca(H2PO4)2, which is soluble and therefore available for the soil.

SUPERPHYSICAL Su`per*phys"ic*al, a.

Defn: Above or beyond physics; not explainable by physical laws. Something superphysical and superchemical. J. Le Conte.

SUPERPLANT Su"per*plant`, n.

Defn: A plant growing on another, as the mistletoe; an epiphyte. [Obs.] Bacon.

SUPERPLEASE Su`per*please", v. t.

Defn: To please exceedingly. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

SUPERPLUS Su"per*plus, n. Etym: [Pref. super- + L. plus more. See Surplus.]

Defn: Surplus. [Obs.] Goldsmith.

SUPERPLUSAGE Su"per*plus`age, n.

Defn: Surplusage. [Obs.] "There yet remained a superplusage." Bp. Fell.

SUPERPOLITIC Su`per*pol"i*tic, a.

Defn: More than politic; above or exceeding policy. Milton.

SUPERPONDERATE Su`per*pon"der*ate, v. t.

Defn: To wiegh over and above. [Obs.]

SUPERPOSABLE Su`per*pos"a*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being superposed, as one figure upon another.

SUPERPOSE Su`per*pose", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Superposed; p. pr. & vb. n. Superposing.] Etym: [F. superposer. See Super-, and Pose.]

1. To lay upon, as one kind of rock on another.

2. (Geom.)

Defn: To lay (a figure) upon another in such a manner that all the parts of the one coincide with the parts of the other; as, to superpose one plane figure on another.

SUPERPOSITION Su`per*po*si"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. superposition. See Super-, and Position.]

Defn: The act of superposing, or the state of being superposed; as, the superposition of rocks; the superposition of one plane figure on another, in geometry.

SUPERPRAISE Su`per*praise", v. t.

Defn: To praise to excess. To vow, and swear, and superpraise my parts. Shak.

SUPERPROPORTION Su`per*pro*por"tion, n.

Defn: Overplus or excess of proportion. Sir K. Digby.

SUPERPURGATION Su`per*pur*ga"tion, n.

Defn: Excessive purgation. Wiseman.

SUPERREFLECTION Su`per*re*flec"tion, n.

Defn: The reflection of a reflected image or sound. [R.] Bacon.

SUPERREGAL Su`per*re"gal, a.

Defn: More than regal; worthy of one greater than a king. Waterland.

SUPERREWARD Su`per*re*ward", v. t.

Defn: To reward to an excessive degree. Bacon.

SUPERROYAL Su`per*roy"al, a.

Defn: Larger than royal; -- said of a particular size of printing and writing paper. See the Note under Paper, n.

SUPERSACRAL Su`per*sa"cral, a. (Anat.)

Defn: Situated over, or on the dorsal side of, the sacrum.

SUPERSALIENCY Su`per*sa"li*en*cy, n.

Defn: The act of leaping on anything. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

SUPERSALIENT Su`per*sa"li*ent, a. Etym: [Pref. super- + L. saliens p.pr. of salire to leap.]

Defn: Leaping upon. [Obs.]

SUPERSALT Su`per*salt", n. (Chem.)

Defn: An acid salt. See Acid salt (a), under Salt, n.

SUPERSATURATE Su`per*sat"u*rate, v. t.

Defn: To add to beyond saturation; as, to supersaturate a solution.

SUPERSATURATION Su`per*sat`u*ra"tion, n.

Defn: The operation of supersaturating, or the state of being supersaturated.

SUPERSCRIBE Su`per*scribe", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Superscribed; p. pr. & vb. n. Superscribing.] Etym: [L. superscribere, superscriptum; super over + scribere to write. See Super-, and Scribe.]

Defn: To write or engrave (a name, address, inscription, or the like) on the top or surface; to write a name, address, or the like, on the outside or cover of (anything); as, to superscribe a letter.

SUPERSCRIPT Su"per*script, n.

Defn: Superscription. [Obs.] "I will overglance the superscript." Shak.

SUPERSCRIPTION Su`per*scrip"tion, n. Etym: [L. superscriptio. See Superscribe.]

1. The act of superscribing.

2. That which is written or engraved on the surface, outside, or above something else; specifically, an address on a letter, envelope, or the like. Holland. The superscription of his accusation was written over, The King of the Jews. Mark xv. 26.

3. (Pharm.)

Defn: That part of a prescription which contains the Latin word recipe (Take) or the sign

SUPERSECULAR Su`per*sec"u*lar, a.

Defn: Being above the world, or secular things. Bp. Hall.

SUPERSEDE Su`per*sede", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Superseded; p. pr. & vb. n. Superseding.] Etym: [L. supersedere, supersessum, to sit above, be superior to, forbear, omit; super above + sedere to sit: cf. F. superséder. See Sit, and cf. Surcease.]

1. To come, or be placed, in the room of; to replace.

2. To displace, or set aside, and put another in place of; as, to supersede an officer.

3. To make void, inefficacious, or useless, by superior power, or by coming in the place of; to set aside; to render unnecessary; to suspend; to stay. Nothing is supposed that can supersede the known laws of natural motion. Bentley.

4. (Old Law)

Defn: To omit; to forbear.

SUPERSEDEAS Su`per*se"de*as, n. Etym: [L., suspend, set aside, stay, 2d pers. sing. present subjunctive of supersedere. See Supersede.] (Law)

Defn: A writ of command to suspend the powers of an officer in certain cases, or to stay proceedings under another writ. Blackstone.

SUPERSEDURE Su*per*se"dure, n.

Defn: The act of superseding, or setting aside; supersession; as, the supersedure of trial by jury. A. Hamilton.

SUPERSEMINATE Su`per*sem"i*nate, v. t.

Defn: To sow, as seed, over something previously sown. [Obs.] That can not be done with joy, when it shall be indifferent to any man to superseminate what he please. Jer. Taylor.

SUPERSEMINATION Su`per*sem`i*na"tion, n.

Defn: The sowing of seed over seed previously sown. [Obs.] Abp. Bramhall.

SUPERSENSIBLE Su`per*sen"si*ble, a. Etym: [Pref. super- + sensible: cf. F. supersensible.]

Defn: Beyond the reach of the senses; above the natural powers of perception.

SUPERSENSITIVE Su`per*sen"si*tive, a.

Defn: Excessively sensitive; morbidly sensitive. -- Su`per*sen"si*tive*ness, n.

SUPERSENSUAL Su`per*sen"su*al, a.

Defn: Supersensible.

SUPERSENSUOUS Su`per*sen"su*ous, a.

1. Supersensible.

2. Excessively sensuous.

SUPERSERVICEABLE Su`per*serv"ice*a*ble, a.

Defn: Overofficious; doing more than is required or desired. "A superserviceable, finical rogue." Shak.

SUPERSESSION Su`per*ses"sion, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. supersession. See Supersede.]

Defn: The act of superseding, or the state of being superseded; supersedure. The general law of diminishing return from land would have undergone, to that extent, a temporary supersession. J. S. Mill.

SUPERSOLAR Su`per*so"lar, a.

Defn: Above the sun. Emerson.

SUPERSPHENOIDAL Su`per*sphe*noid"al, a. (Anat.)

Defn: Situated above, or on the dorsal side of, the body of the sphenoid bone.

SUPERSPINOUS Su`per*spi"nous, a. (Anat.)

Defn: Supraspinuos.

SUPERSTITION Su`per*sti"tion, n. Etym: [F. superstition, L. superstitio, originally, a standing still over or by a thing; hence, amazement, wonder, dread, especially of the divine or supernatural, fr. superstare to stand over; super over + stare to stand. See Super-, and Stand.]

1. An excessive reverence for, or fear of, that which is unknown or mysterious.

2. An ignorant or irrational worship of the Supreme Deity; excessive exactness or rigor in religious opinions or practice; extreme and unnecessary scruples in the observance of religious rites not commanded, or of points of minor importance; also, a rite or practice proceeding from excess of sculptures in religion. And the truth With superstitions and traditions taint. Milton.

3. The worship of a false god or gods; false religion; religious veneration for objects. [The accusers] had certain questions against him of their own superstition. Acts xxv. 19.

4. Belief in the direct agency of superior powers in certain extraordinary or singular events, or in magic, omens, prognostics, or the like.

5. Excessive nicety; scrupulous exactness.

Syn. -- Fanaticism. -- Superstition, Fanaticism. Superstition springs from religious feeling misdirected or unenlightened. Fanaticism arises from this same feeling in a state of high-wrought and self-confident excitement. The former leads in some cases to excessive rigor in religious opinions or practice; in others, to unfounded belief in extraordinary events or in charms, omens, and prognostics, hence producing weak fears, or excessive scrupulosity as to outward observances. The latter gives rise to an utter disregard of reason under the false assumption of enjoying a guidance directly inspired. Fanaticism has a secondary sense as applied to politics, etc., which corresponds to the primary.

SUPERSTITIONIST Su`per*sti"tion*ist, n.

Defn: One addicted to superstition. [Obs.] "Blind superstitionists." Dr. H. More.

SUPERSTITIOUS Su`per*sti"tious, a. Etym: [F. superstitieux, L. superstitiosus.]

1. Of or pertaining to superstition; proceeding from, or manifesting, superstition; as, superstitious rites; superstitious observances.

2. Evincing superstition; overscrupulous and rigid in religious observances; addicted to superstition; full of idle fancies and scruples in regard to religion. Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. Acts xvii. 22.

3. Overexact; scrupulous beyond need. Superstitious use (Law), the use of a gift or bequest, as of land, etc., for the maintenance of the rites of a religion not tolerated by the law. [Eng.] Mozley & W. -- Su`per*sti"tious*ly, adv. -- Su`per*sti"tious*ness, n.

SUPERSTRAIN Su`per*strain", v. t.

Defn: To overstrain. Bacon.

SUPERSTRATUM Su`per*stra"tum, n.; pl. Superstrata (. Etym: [NL.: cf. L. supersternere, superstratum, to spread upon. See Super-, and Stratum.]

Defn: A stratum, or layer, above another.

SUPERSTRUCT Su`per*struct", v. t. Etym: [L. superstructus, p.p. of superstruere to build upon; super over + struere to build. See Super-, and Structure.]

Defn: To build over or upon another structure; to erect upon a foundation. This is the only proper basis on which to superstruct first innocency and then virtue. Dr. H. More.

SUPERSTRUCTION Su`per*struc"tion, n.

1. The act of superstructing, or building upon.

2. That which id superstructed, or built upon some foundation; an edifice; a superstructure. My own profession hath taught me not to erect new superstructions upon an old ruin. Denham.

SUPERSTRUCTIVE Su`per*struct"ive, a.

Defn: Built or erected on something else. Hammond.

SUPERSTRUCTOR Su`per*struct"or, n.

Defn: One who builds a superstructure. [R.] R. North.

SUPERSTRUCTURE Su`per*struc"ture, n. Etym: [Cf. F. superstructure.]

1. Any material structure or edifice built on something else; that which is raised on a foundation or basis; esp. (Arch.),

Defn: all that part of a building above the basement. Also used figuratively. You have added to your natural endowments the superstructure of study. Dryden.

2. (Railway Engin.)

Defn: The sleepers, and fastenings, in distinction from the roadbed.

SUPERSUBSTANTIAL Su`per*sub*stan"tial, a. Etym: [Pref. super- + substantial: cf. F. supersubstantiel.]

Defn: More than substantial; spiritual. "The heavenly supersubstantial bread." Jer. Taylor.

SUPERSUBTLE Su`per*sub"tle, a.

Defn: To subtle. Shak.

SUPERSULPHATE Su`per*sul"phate, n. (Chem.)

Defn: An acid sulphate. [Obs.]

SUPERSULPHURETED Su`per*sul"phu*ret`ed, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Supersulphurized. [Obs.] [Written also -sulphuretted.]

SUPERSULPHURIZE Su`per*sul"phur*ize, v. t. (Chem.)

Defn: To impregnate or combine with an excess of sulphur.

SUPERTAX Su"per*tax`, n. [Super- + tax.]

Defn: A tax in addition to the usual or normal tax; specif., in the United Kingdom, an income tax of sixpence for every pound in addition to the normal income tax of one shilling and twopence for every pound, imposed, by the Finance Act of 1909-1910 (c. 8, ss 66, 72), on the amount by which the income of any person exceeds £3,000 when his total income exceeds £5,000.

SUPERTEMPORAL Su`per*tem"po*ral, n.

Defn: That which is more than temporal; that which is eternal. [R.]

SUPERTERRANEAN Su`per*ter*ra"ne*an, a.

Defn: Being above ground. "Superterranean quarries." Mrs. Trollope.

SUPERTERRENE Su`per*ter*rene", a. Etym: [Pref. super- + terrene: cf. L. superterrenus.]

Defn: Being above ground, or above the earth. [R.]

SUPERTERRESTRIAL Su`per*ter*res"tri*al, a.

Defn: Being above the earth, or above what belongs to the earth. Buckminster.

SUPERTONIC Su`per*ton"ic, n. (Mus.)

Defn: The note next above the keynote; the second of the scale. Busby.

SUPERTRAGICAL Su`per*trag"ic*al, a.

Defn: Tragical to excess.

SUPERTUBERATION Su`per*tu`ber*a"tion, n. Etym: [Pref. super- + tuber.] (Bot.)

Defn: The production of young tubers, as potatoes, from the old while still growing.

SUPERVACANEOUS Su`per*va*ca"ne*ous, a. Etym: [L. supervacaneus, supervacuus; super over + vacuus empty.]

Defn: Serving no purpose; superfluous; needless. [Obs.] Howell.

SUPERVENE Su`per*vene", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Supervened; p. pr. & vb. n. Supervening.] Etym: [L. supervenire, superventum, to come over, to come upon; super over + venire to come. See Super-, and Come, and cf. Overcome.]

Defn: To come as something additional or extraneous; to occur with reference or relation to something else; to happen upon or after something else; to be added; to take place; to happen. Such a mutual gravitation can never supervene to matter unless impressed by divine power. Bentley. A tyrany immediately supervened. Burke.

SUPERVENIENT Su`per*ven"ient, a. Etym: [L. superveniens, p.pr.]

Defn: Coming as something additional or extraneous; coming afterwards. That branch of belief was in him supervenient to Christian practice. Hammond. Divorces can be granted, a mensa et toro, only for supervenient causes. Z. Swift.

SUPERVENTION Su`per*ven"tion, n. Etym: [L. superventio.]

Defn: The act of supervening. Bp. Hall.

SUPERVISAL Su`per*vis"al, n.

Defn: Supervision. Walpole.

SUPERVISE Su`per*vise", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Supervised; p. pr. & vb. n. Supervising.] Etym: [Pref. super- + L. visere to look at attentively, to view, surely, intens. from videre, visum, to see. Cf. Survise, and Survey.]

1. To oversee for direction; to superintend; to inspect with authority; as, to supervise the construction of a steam engine, or the printing of a book.

2. To look over so as to read; to peruse. [Obs.] Shak.

Syn. -- See Superintend.

SUPERVISE Su`per*vise", n.

Defn: Supervision; inspection. [Obs.]

SUPERVISION Su`per*vi"sion, n.

Defn: The act of overseeing; inspection; superintendence; oversight.

SUPERVISIVE Su`per*vi"sive, a.

Defn: Supervisory. [R.]

SUPERVISOR Su`per*vis"or, n.

1. One who supervises; an overseer; an inspector; a superintendent; as, a supervisor of schools.

2. A spectator; a looker-on. [Obs.] Shak.

SUPERVISORY Su`per*vi"so*ry, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to supervision; as, supervisory powers.

SUPERVIVE Su`per*vive", v. t. Etym: [L. supervivere. See Survive.]

Defn: To survive; to outlive. [Obs.]

SUPERVOLUTE Su`per*vo*lute", a. Etym: [L. supervolutus, p.p. of supervolvere to roll over; super over + volvere to roll.] (Bot.)

Defn: Having a plainted and convolute arrangement in the bud, as in the morning-glory.

SUPINATION Su`pi*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. supinare, supinatum, to bend or lay backward, fr. supinus supine: cf. F. supination. See Supine.] (Physiol.) (a) The act of turning the hand palm upward; also, position of the hand with the palm upward. (b) The act or state of lying with the face upward. Opposed to Ant: pronation.

SUPINATOR Su`pi*na"tor, n. Etym: [NL.] (Anat.)

Defn: A muscle which produces the motion of supination.

SUPINE Su*pine", a. Etym: [L. supinus, akin to sub under, super above. Cf. Sub-, Super-.]

1. Lying on the back, or with the face upward; -- opposed to prone.

2. Leaning backward, or inclining with exposure to the sun; sloping; inclined. If the vine On rising ground be placed, or hills supine. Dryden.

3. Negligent; heedless; indolent; listless. He became pusillanimous and supine, and openly exposed to any temptation. Woodward.

Syn. -- Negligent; heedless; indolent; thoughtless; inattentive; listless; careless; drowsy. -- Su*pine"ly, adv. -- Su*pine"ness, n.

SUPINE Su"pine, n. Etym: [L. supinum (sc. verbum), from supinus bent or thrown backward, perhaps so called because, although furnished with substantive case endings, it rests or falls back, as it were, on the verb: cf. F. supin.] (Lat. Gram.)

Defn: A verbal noun; or (according to C.F.Becker), a case of the infinitive mood ending in -um and -u, that in -um being sometimes called the former supine, and that in -u the latter supine.

SUPINITY Su*pin"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. supinitas.]

Defn: Supineness. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

SUPPAGE Sup"page, n. Etym: [From Sup.]

Defn: What may be supped; pottage. [Obs.] Hooker.

SUPPALPATION Sup`pal*pa"tion, n. Etym: [L. suppalpari to caress a little; sub under, a little + palpare to caress.]

Defn: The act of enticing by soft words; enticement. [Obs.]

SUPPARASITATION Sup*par`a*si*ta"tion, n. Etym: [See Supparasite.]

Defn: The act of flattering to gain favor; servile approbation. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

SUPPARASITE Sup*par"a*site, v. t. Etym: [L. supparasitari; sub under, a little + parasitus a parasite.]

Defn: To flatter; to cajole; to act the parasite. [Obs.] Dr. R. Clerke.

SUPPAWN Sup*pawn", n.

Defn: See Supawn.

SUPPEDANEOUS Sup`pe*da"ne*ous, a. Etym: [Pref. sub- + L. pes, pedis, a foot: cf. L. suppedaneum a footstool.]

Defn: Being under the feet. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

SUPPEDITATE Sup*ped"i*tate, v. t. Etym: [L. suppeditatus, p.p. of suppeditare to supply.]

Defn: To supply; to furnish. [Obs.] Hammond.

SUPPEDITATION Sup*ped`i*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. suppeditatio.]

Defn: Supply; aid afforded. [Obs.] Bacon.

SUPPER Sup"per, n. Etym: [OE. soper, super, OF. super, soper, F. souper; originally an infinitive, to sup, take a meal. See Soup, and cf. Sup to take supper.]

Defn: A meal taken at the close of the day; the evening meal.

Note: Supper is much used in an obvious sense, either adjectively or as the first part of a compound; as, supper time or supper-time, supper bell, supper hour, etc.

SUPPER Sup"per, v. i.

Defn: To take supper; to sup. [R.]

SUPPER Sup"per, v. t.

Defn: To supply with supper. [R.] "Kester was suppering the horses." Mrs. Gaskell.

SUPPERLESS Sup"per*less, a.

Defn: Having no supper; deprived of supper; as, to go supperless to bed. Beau. & Fl.

SUPPING Sup"ping, n.

1. The act of one who sups; the act of taking supper.

2. That which is supped; broth. [Obs.] Holland.

SUPPLACE Sup*place", v. t.

Defn: To replace. [R.] J. Bascom.

SUPPLANT Sup*plant", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Supplanted; p. pr. & vb. n. Supplanting.] Etym: [F. supplanter, L. supplantare to trip up one's heels, to throw down; sub under + planta the sole of the foot, also, a sucker, slip, sprout. Cf. Plant, n.]

1. To trip up. [Obs.] "Supplanted, down he fell." Milton.

2. To remove or displace by stratagem; to displace and take the place of; to supersede; as, a rival supplants another in the favor of a mistress or a prince. Suspecting that the courtier had supplanted the friend. Bp. Fell.

3. To overthrow, undermine, or force away, in order to get a substitute in place of. You never will supplant the received ideas of God. Landor.

Syn. -- To remove; displace; overpower; undermine; overthrow; supersede.

SUPPLANTATION Sup`plan*ta"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. supplantation, L. supplantatio hypocritical deceit.]

Defn: The act of supplanting or displacing. Habitual supplantation of immediate selfishness. Cloeridge.

SUPPLANTER Sup*plan"ter, n.

Defn: One who supplants.

SUPPLE Sup"ple, a. Etym: [OE. souple, F. souple, from L. supplex suppliant, perhaps originally, being the knees. Cf. Supplicate.]

1. Pliant; flexible; easily bent; as, supple joints; supple fingers.

2. Yielding compliant; not obstinate; submissive to guidance; as, a supple horse. If punishment . . . makes not the will supple, it hardens the offender. Locke.

3. Bending to the humor of others; flattering; fawning; obsequious. Addison.

Syn. -- Pliant; flexible; yielding; compliant; bending; flattering; fawning; soft.

SUPPLE Sup"ple, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Suppled; p. pr. & vb. n. Suppling.]

1. To make soft and pliant; to render flexible; as, to supple leather. The flesh therewith she suppled and did steep. Spenser.

2. To make compliant, submissive, or obedient. A mother persisting till she had bent her daughter's mind and suppled her will. Locke. They should supple our stiff willfulness. Barrow.

SUPPLE Sup"ple, v. i.

Defn: To become soft and pliant. The stones . . . Suppled into softness as they fell. Dryden.

SUPPLE-CHAPPED Sup"ple-chapped`, a.

Defn: Having a limber tongue. [R.] "A supple-chapped flatterer." Marston.

SUPPLE-JACK Sup"ple-jack`, n. (Bot.) (a) A climbing shrub (Berchemia volubilus) of the Southern United States, having a tough and pliable stem. (b) A somewhat similar tropical American plant (Paullinia Curassavica); also, a walking stick made from its stem. He was in form and spirit like a supple-jack, . . . yielding, but tough; though he bent, he never broke. W. Irving.

Note: This name is given to various plants of similar habit in different British colonies.

SUPPLELY Sup"ple*ly, adv.

Defn: In a supple manner; softly; pliantly; mildly. Cotgrave.

SUPPLEMENT Sup"ple*ment, n. Etym: [F. supplément, L. supplementum, fr. supplere to fill up. See Supply, v. t.]

1. That which supplies a deficiency, or meets a want; a store; a supply. [Obs.] Chapman.

2. That which fills up, completes, or makes an addition to, something already organized, arranged, or set apart; specifically, a part added to, or issued as a continuation of, a book or paper, to make good its deficiencies or correct its errors.

3. (Trig.)

Defn: The number of degrees which, if added to a specified arc, make it 180°; the quantity by which an arc or an angle falls short of 180 degrees, or an arc falls short of a semicircle.

Syn. -- Appendix. -- Appendix, Supplement. An appendix is that which is appended to something, but is not essential to its completeness; a supplement is that which supplements, or serves to complete or make perfect, that to which it is added.

SUPPLEMENT Sup"ple*ment, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Supplemented; p. pr. & vb. n. Supplementing.]

Defn: To fill up or supply by addition; to add something to. Causes of one kind must be supplemented by bringing to bear upon them a causation of another kind. I. Taylor.

SUPPLEMENTAL; SUPPLEMENTARY Sup`ple*men"tal, Sup`ple*men"ta*ry, a. Etym: [Cf. F. supplémentaire.]

Defn: Added to supply what is wanted; additional; being, or serving as, a supplement; as, a supplemental law; a supplementary sheet or volume. Supplemental air (Physiol.), the air which in addition to the residual air remains in the lungs after ordinary expiration, but which, unlike the residual air, can be expelled; reserve air. -- Supplemental bill (Equity), a bill filed in aid of an original bill to supply some deffect in the latter, or to set forth new facts which can not be done by amendment. Burrill. Daniel. -- Supplementary chords (Math.), in an ellipse or hyperbola, any two chords drawn through the extremities of a diameter, and intersecting on the curve.

SUPPLEMENTATION Sup`ple*men*ta"tion, n.

Defn: The act of supplementing. C. Kingsley.

SUPPLENESS Sup"ple*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or state of being supple; flexibility; pliableness; pliancy.

SUPPLETIVE; SUPPLETORY Sup"ple*tive, Sup"ple*to*ry, a. Etym: [Cf. F. supplétif, LL. suppletivus, from L. supplere, suppletum, to fill up. See Supply.]

Defn: Supplying deficiencies; supplementary; as, a suppletory oath.

SUPPLETORY Sup"ple*to*ry, n.; pl. Suppletories (.

Defn: That which is to supply what is wanted. Invent suppletories to excuse an evil man. Jer. Taylor.

SUPPLIAL Sup*pli"al, n.

Defn: The act of supplying; a supply. "The supplial of a preposition." Fitzed. Hall.

SUPPLIANCE Sup*pli"ance, n. Etym: [From Supply.]

Defn: That which supplies a want; assistance; a gratification; satisfaction. [R.] The perfume and suppliance of a minute. Shak.

SUPPLIANCE Sup*pli"ance, n. Etym: [See Suppliant.]

Defn: Supplication; entreaty. When Greece her knee in suppliance bent. Halleck.

SUPPLIANT Sup"pli*ant, a. Etym: [F., p.pr. of supplier to entreat, L. supplicare. See Supplicate, and cf. Supplicant.]

1. Asking earnestly and submissively; entreating; beseeching; supplicating. The rich grow suppliant, and the poor grow proud. Dryden.

2. Manifesting entreaty; expressive of supplication. To bow and sue for grace With suppliant knee. Milton.

Syn. -- Entreating; beseeching; suing; begging; supplicating; imploring. -- Sup"pli*ant*ly, adv. -- Sup"pli*ant*ness, n.

SUPPLIANT Sup"pli*ant, n.

Defn: One who supplicates; a humble petitioner; one who entreats submissively. Hear thy suppliant's prayer. Dryden.

SUPPLICANCY Sup"pli*can*cy, n.

Defn: Supplication. [R.]

SUPPLICANT Sup"pli*cant, a. Etym: [L. supplicans, p.pr. See Supplicate, and cf. Suppliant.]

Defn: Entreating; asking submissively. Shak. -- Sup"pli*cant*ly, adv.

SUPPLICANT Sup"pli*cant, n.

Defn: One who supplicates; a suppliant. The wise supplicant . . . left the event to God. Rogers.

SUPPLICAT Sup"pli*cat, n. Etym: [L., he supplicates.] (Eng. Universities)

Defn: A petition; esp., a written one, with a certificate that the conditions have been complied with.

SUPPLICATE Sup"pli*cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Supplicated; p. pr. & vb. n. Supplicating.] Etym: [L. supplicatus, p.p. of supplicare to supplicate; of uncertain origin, cf. supplex, supplicis, humbly begging or entreating; perhaps fr. sub under + a word akin to placare to reconcile, appease (cf. Placable), or fr. sub under + plicare to fold, whence the idea of bending the knees (cf. Ply, v. t.). Cf. Supple.]

1. To entreat for; to seek by earnest prayer; to ask for earnestly and humbly; as, to supplicate blessings on Christian efforts to spread the gospel.

2. To address in prayer; to entreat as a supplicant; as, to supplicate the Deity.

Syn. -- To beseech; entreat; beg; petition; implore; importune; solicit; crave. See Beseech.

SUPPLICATE Sup"pli*cate, v. i.

Defn: To make petition with earnestness and submission; to implore. A man can not brook to supplicate or beg. Bacon.

SUPPLICATINGLY Sup"pli*ca`ting*ly, adv.

Defn: In a supplicating manner.

SUPPLICATION Sup`pli*ca"tion, n. Etym: [F. supplication, L. supplicatio.]

1. The act of supplicating; humble and earnest prayer, as in worship.

2. A humble petition; an earnest request; an entreaty.

3. (Rom. Antiq.)

Defn: A religious solemnity observed in consequence of some military success, and also, in times of distress and danger, to avert the anger of the gods.

Syn. -- Entreaty; petition; solicitation; craving.

SUPPLICATOR Sup"pli*ca`tor, n. Etym: [L.]

Defn: One who supplicates; a supplicant.

SUPPLICATORY Sup"pli*ca*to*ry, a. Etym: [Cf. F. supplicatoire.]

Defn: Containing supplication; humble; earnest.

SUPPLIER Sup*pli"er, n.

Defn: One who supplies.

SUPPLY Sup*ply", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Supplied; p. pr. & vb. n. Supplying.] Etym: [For older supploy, F. suppléer, OF. also supployer, (assumed) LL. suppletare, from L. supplere, suppletum; sub under + plere to fill, akin to plenus full. See Plenty.]

1. To fill up, or keep full; to furnish with what is wanted; to afford, or furnish with, a sufficiency; as, rivers are supplied by smaller streams; an aqueduct supplies an artificial lake; -- often followed by with before the thing furnished; as, to supply a furnace with fuel; to supply soldiers with ammunition.

2. To serve instead of; to take the place of. Burning ships the banished sun supply. Waller. The sun was set, and Vesper, to supply His absent beams, had lighted up the sky. Dryden.

3. To fill temporarily; to serve as substitute for another in, as a vacant place or office; to occupy; to have possession of; as, to supply a pulpit.

4. To give; to bring or furnish; to provide; as, to supply money for the war. Prior.

Syn. -- To furnish; provide; administer; minister; contribute; yield; accommodate.

SUPPLY Sup*ply", n.; pl. Supplies (.

1. The act of supplying; supplial. A. Tucker.

2. That which supplies a want; sufficiency of things for use or want. Specifically: -- (a) Auxiliary troops or reënforcements. "My promised supply of horsemen." Shak. (b) The food, and the like, which meets the daily necessities of an army or other large body of men; store; -- used chiefly in the plural; as, the army was discontented for lack of supplies. (c) An amount of money provided, as by Parliament or Congress, to meet the annual national expenditures; generally in the plural; as, to vote supplies. (d) A person who fills a place for a time; one who supplies the place of another; a substitute; esp., a clergyman who supplies a vacant pulpit. Stated supply (Eccl.), a clergyman employed to supply a pulpit for a definite time, but not settled as a pastor. [U.S.] -- Supply and demand. (Polit. Econ.) "Demand means the quantity of a given article which would be taken at a given price. Supply means the quantity of that article which could be had at that price." F. A. Walker.

SUPPLY Sup*ply", a.

Defn: Serving to contain, deliver, or regulate a supply of anything; as, a supply tank or valve. Supply system (Zoöl.), the system of tubes and canals in sponges by means of which food and water are absorbed. See Illust. of Spongiæ.

SUPPLYANT Sup*ply"ant, a.

Defn: Supplying or aiding; auxiliary; suppletory. [Obs.] Shak.

SUPPLYMENT Sup*ply"ment, n.

Defn: A supplying or furnishing; supply. [Obs.] Shak.

SUPPORT Sup*port", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Supported; p. pr. & vb. n. Supporting.] Etym: [F. supporter, L. supportare to carry on, to convey, in LL., to support, sustain; sub under + portare to carry. See Port demeanor.]

1. To bear by being under; to keep from falling; to uphold; to sustain, in a literal or physical sense; to prop up; to bear the weight of; as, a pillar supports a structure; an abutment supports an arch; the trunk of a tree supports the branches.

2. To endure without being overcome, exhausted, or changed in character; to sustain; as, to support pain, distress, or misfortunes. This fierce demeanor and his insolence The patience of a god could not support. Dryden.

3. To keep from failing or sinking; to solace under affictive circumstances; to assist; to encourage; to defend; as, to support the courage or spirits.

4. To assume and carry successfully, as the part of an actor; to represent or act; to sustain; as, to support the character of King Lear.

5. To furnish with the means of sustenance or livelihood; to maintain; to provide for; as, to support a family; to support the ministers of the gospel.

6. To carry on; to enable to continue; to maintain; as, to support a war or a contest; to support an argument or a debate.

7. To verify; to make good; to substantiate; to establish; to sustain; as, the testimony is not sufficient to support the charges; the evidence will not support the statements or allegations. To urge such arguments, as though they were sufficient to support and demonstrate a whole scheme of moral philosophy. J. Edwards.

8. To vindicate; to maintain; to defend successfully; as, to be able to support one's own cause.

9. To uphold by aid or countenance; to aid; to help; to back up; as, to support a friend or a party; to support the present administration. Wherefore, bold pleasant, Darest thou support a published traitor Shak.

10. A attend as an honorary assistant; as, a chairman supported by a vice chairman; O'Connell left the prison, supported by his two sons. Support arms (Mil.), a command in the manual of arms in responce to which the piece is held vertically at the shoulder, with the hammer resting on the left forearm, which is passed horizontally across the body in front; also, the position assumed in response to this command.

Syn. -- To maintain; endure; verify; substantiate; countenance; patronize; help; back; second; succor; relieve; uphold; encourage; favor; nurture; nourish; cherish; shield; defend; protect; stay; assist; forward.

SUPPORT Sup*port", n. Etym: [F.]

1. The act, state, or operation of supporting, upholding, or sustaining.

2. That which upholds, sustains, or keeps from falling, as a prop, a pillar, or a foundation of any kind.

3. That which maintains or preserves from being overcome, falling, yielding, sinking, giving way, or the like; subsistence; maintenance; assistance; reënforcement; as, he gave his family a good support, the support of national credit; the assaulting column had the support of a battery. Points of support (Arch.), the horizontal area of the solids of a building, walls, piers, and the like, as compared with the open or vacant spaces. -- Right of support (Law), an easement or servitude by which the owner of a house has a right to rest his timber on the walls of his neighbor's house. Kent.

Syn. -- Stay; prop; maintenance; subsistence; assistance; favor; countenance; encouragement; patronage; aid; help; succor; nutriment; sustenance; food.

SUPPORTABLE Sup*port"a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. supportable.]

Defn: Capable of being supported, maintained, or endured; endurable. -- Sup*port"a*ble*ness, n. -- Sup*port"a*bly, adv.

SUPPORTANCE Sup*port"ance, n.

Defn: Support. [Obs.] Shak.

SUPPORTATION Sup`por*ta"tion, n.

Defn: Maintenance; support. [Obs.] Chaucer. Bacon.

SUPPORTER Sup*port"er, n.

1. One who, or that which, supports; as, oxygen is a supporter of life. The sockets and supporters of flowers are figured. Bacon. The saints have a . . . supporter in all their miseries. South.

2. Especially, an adherent; one who sustains, advocates, and defends; as, the supporter of a party, faction, or candidate.

3. (Shipbuilding)

Defn: A knee placed under the cathead.

4. (Her.)

Defn: A figure, sometimes of a man, but commonly of some animal, placed on either side of an escutcheon, and exterior to it. Usually, both supporters of an escutcheon are similar figures.

5. (Med.)

Defn: A broad band or truss for supporting the abdomen or some other part or organ.

SUPPORTFUL Sup*port"ful, a.

Defn: Abounding with support. [Obs.] Chapman.

SUPPORTLESS Sup*port"less, a.

Defn: Having no support. Milton.

SUPPORTMENT Sup*port"ment, n.

Defn: Support. [Obs.] Sir H. Wotton.

SUPPORTRESS Sup*port"ress, n.

Defn: A female supporter. [R.] You are my gracious patroness and supportress. Massinger.

SUPPOSABLE Sup*pos"a*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being supposed, or imagined to exist; as, that is not a supposable case. -- Sup*pos"a*ble*ness, n. -- Sup*pos"a*bly, adv.

SUPPOSAL Sup*pos"al, n.

Defn: The act of supposing; also, that which is supposed; supposition; opinion. Shak. Interest, with a Jew, never proceeds but upon supposal, at least, of a firm and sufficient bottom. South.

SUPPOSE Sup*pose", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Supposed; p. pr. & vb. n. Supposing.] Etym: [F. supposer; pref. sub- under + poser to place; -- corresponding in meaning to L. supponere, suppositum, to put under, to substitute, falsify, counterfeit. See Pose.]

1. To represent to one's self, or state to another, not as true or real, but as if so, and with a view to some consequence or application which the reality would involve or admit of; to imagine or admit to exist, for the sake of argument or illustration; to assume to be true; as, let us suppose the earth to be the center of the system, what would be the result Suppose they take offence without a cause. Shak. When we have as great assurance that a thing is, as we could possibly, supposing it were, we ought not to make any doubt of its existence. Tillotson.

2. To imagine; to believe; to receive as true. How easy is a bush supposed a bear! Shak. Let not my lord suppose that they have slain all the young men, the king's sons; for Amnon only is dead. 2 Sam. xiii. 32.

3. To require to exist or to be true; to imply by the laws of thought or of nature; as, purpose supposes foresight. One falsehood always supposes another, and renders all you can say suspected. Female Quixote.

4. To put by fraud in the place of another. [Obs.]

Syn. -- To imagine; believe; conclude; judge; consider; view; regard; conjecture; assume.

SUPPOSE Sup*pose", v. i.

Defn: To make supposition; to think; to be of opinion. Acts ii. 15.

SUPPOSE Sup*pose", n.

Defn: Supposition. [Obs.] Shak. "A base suppose that he is honest." Dryden.

SUPPOSEER Sup*pose"er, n.

Defn: One who supposes.

SUPPOSITION Sup`po*si"tion, n. Etym: [F. supposition, L. suppositio a placing under, a substitution, fr. supponere, suppositium, to put under, to substitute. The word has the meaning corresponding to suppose. See Sub-, and Position.]

1. The act of supposing, laying down, imagining, or considering as true or existing, what is known not to be true, or what is not proved.

2. That which is supposed; hypothesis; conjecture; surmise; opinion or belief without sufficient evidence. This is only an infallibility upon supposition that if a thing be true, it is imposible to be false. Tillotson. He means are in supposition. Shak.

SUPPOSITIONAL Sup`po*si"tion*al, a.

Defn: Resting on supposition; hypothetical; conjectural; supposed. South.

SUPPOSITITIOUS Sup*pos`i*ti"tious, a. Etym: [L. suppositicus. See Supposition.]

1. Fraudulently substituted for something else; not being what is purports to be; not genuine; spurious; counterfeit; as, a supposititious child; a supposititious writing. Bacon.

2. Suppositional; hypothetical. [R.] Woodward. -- Sup*pos`i*ti"tious*ly, adv. -- Sup*pos`i*ti"tious*ness, n.

SUPPOSITIVE Sup*pos"i*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. suppositif.]

Defn: Including or implying supposition, or hypothesis; supposed. -- Sup*pos"i*tive*ly, adv. Hammond.

SUPPOSITIVE Sup*pos"i*tive, n.

Defn: A word denoting or implying supposition, as the words if, granting, provided, etc. Harris.

SUPPOSITOR Sup*pos"i*tor, n. (Med.)

Defn: An apparatus for the introduction of suppositories into the rectum.

SUPPOSITORY Sup*pos"i*to*ry, n.; pl. Suppositories. Etym: [LL. suppositorium, fr. L. suppositorius that is placed underneath: cf. F. suppositoire. See Supposition.] (Med.)

Defn: A pill or bolus for introduction into the rectum; esp., a cylinder or cone of medicated cacao butter.

SUPPOSURE Sup*po"sure, n.

Defn: Supposition; hypothesis; conjecture. [Obs.] Hudibras.

SUPPRESS Sup*press", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Suppressed; p. pr. & vb. n. Suppressing.] Etym: [L. suppressus, p.p. of supprimere to suppress; sub under + premere, pressum, to press. See Sub-, and Press.]

1. To overpower and crush; to subdue; to put down; to quell. Every rebellion, when it is suppressed, doth make the subject weaker, and the prince stronger. Sir J. Davies.

2. To keep in; to restrain from utterance or vent; as, to suppress the voice; to suppress a smile. Sir W. Scott.

3. To retain without disclosure; to conceal; not to reveal; to prevent publication of; as, to suppress evidence; to suppress a pamphlet; to suppress the truth. She suppresses the name, and this keeps him in a pleasing suspense. Broome.

4. To stop; to restrain; to arrest the discharges of; as, to suppress a diarrhea, or a hemorrhage.

Syn. -- To repress; restrain; put down; overthrow; overpower; overwhelm; conceal; stifle; stop; smother.

SUPPRESSIBLE Sup*press"i*ble, a.

Defn: That may be suppressed.

SUPPRESSION Sup*pres"sion, n. Etym: [L. suppressio: cf. F. suppression.]

1. The act of suppressing, or the state of being suppressed; repression; as, the suppression of a riot, insurrection, or tumult; the suppression of truth, of reports, of evidence, and the like.

2. (Med.)

Defn: Complete stoppage of a natural secretion or excretion; as, suppression of urine; -- used in contradiction to retention, which signifies that the secretion or excretion is retained without expulsion. Quain.

3. (Gram.)

Defn: Omission; as, the suppression of a word.

Syn. -- Overthrow; destruction; concealment; repression; detention; retention; obstruction.

SUPPRESSIVE Sup*press"ive, a.

Defn: Tending to suppress; subduing; concealing.

SUPPRESSOR Sup*press"or, n. Etym: [L., hider.]

Defn: One who suppresses.

SUPPRISE Sup*prise", v. t.

Defn: To surprise. [Obs.] Chaucer.

SUPPURANT Sup"pu*rant, n. (Med.)

Defn: A suppurative.

SUPPURATE Sup"pu*rate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Suppurated; p. pr. & vb. n. Suppurating.] Etym: [L. suppuratus, p.p. of suppurare to suppurate, cause to suppurate; sub under + pus, puris, matter. See Pus.]

Defn: To generate pus; as, a boil or abscess suppurates.

SUPPURATE Sup"pu*rate, v. t.

Defn: To cause to generate pus; as, to suppurate a sore. Arbuthnot.

SUPPURATION Sup`pu*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. suppuratio: cf. F. suppuration.]

1. The act or process of suppurating.

2. The matter produced by suppuration; pus.

SUPPURATIVE Sup"pu*ra*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. suppuratif.]

Defn: Tending to suppurate; promoting suppuration. Suppurative fever (Med.), pyæmia.

SUPPURATIVE Sup"pu*ra*tive, n. (Med.)

Defn: A suppurative medicine.

SUPPUTATE Sup"pu*tate, v. t. Etym: [L. supputatus, p.p. of supputare. See Suppute.]

Defn: To suppute. [Obs.]

SUPPUTATION Sup`pu*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. supputatio: cf. F. supputation.]

Defn: Reckoning; account. [Obs.]

SUPPUTE Sup*pute", v. t. Etym: [F. supputer, or L. supputare; sub under + putare to reckon.]

Defn: To reckon; to compute; to suppose; to impute. [Obs.] Drayton.

SUPRA Su"pra, adv. Etym: [L.; akin to super. See Super-.]

Defn: Over; above; before; also, beyond; besides; -- much used as a prefix.

SUPRA-ACROMIAL Su`pra-a*cro"mi*al, a. (Anat.)

Defn: Situated above the acromial process of the scapula.

SUPRA-ANGULAR Su`pra-an"gu*lar, a. (Anat.)

Defn: See Surangular.

SUPRA-AURICULAR Su`pra-au*ric"u*lar, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Situated above the ear coverts, or auriculars; -- said of certain feathers of birds. -- n.

Defn: A supra-auricular feather.

SUPRA-AXILLARY Su"pra-ax"il*la*ry, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Growing above the axil; inserted above the axil, as a peduncle. See Suprafoliaceous.

SUPRABRANCHIAL Su`pra*bran"chi*al, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Situated above the branchiæ; -- applied especially to the upper division of the gill cavity of bivalve mollusks.

SUPRACHOROID; SUPRACHOROIDAL Su`pra*cho"roid, Su`pra*cho*roid"al, a. (Anat.)