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Wearing away; superficial waste. Tyndall.

superl. of Able.

Figuratively, higher than; superior to in any respect; surpassing; beyond; higher in measure or degree than; as, things above comprehension; above mean actions; conduct above reproach. "Thy worth . . . is actions above my gifts." Marlowe. I saw in the way a light from heaven above the brightness of the sun. Acts xxxvi.…

A superficial excoriation, with loss of substance under the form of small shreds. Dunglison.

An overflowing fullness; ample sufficiency; great plenty; profusion; copious supply; superfluity; wealth: -- strictly applicable to quantity only, but sometimes used of number. It is lamentable to remember what abundance of noble blood hath been shed with small benefit to the Christian state. Raleigh.…

A superior force of voice or of articulative effort upon some particular syllable of a word or a phrase, distinguishing it from the others.

ficer in a public office, who has charge of the accounts. Accountatn general, the head or superintending accountant in certain public offices. Also, formerly, an officer in the English court of chancery who received the moneys paid into the court, and deposited them in the Bank of England.

One who acknowledges no head or superior. Dr. Gauden.

A state of being acquainted, or of having intimate, or more than slight or superficial, knowledge; personal knowledge gained by intercourse short of that of friendship or intimacy; as, I know the man; but have no acquaintance with him. Contract no friendship, or even acquaintance, with a guileful man. Sir W. Jones.…

Doing duty for another; officiating; as, an superintendent.

To direct in writing, as a letter; to superscribe, or to direct and transmit; as, he addressed a letter.

To manage or conduct, as public affairs; to direct or superintend the execution, application, or conduct of; as, to administer the government or the state. For forms of government let fools contest: Whate'er is best administered is best. Pope.

government; the persons collectively who are intrusted with the execution of laws and the superintendence of public affairs; the chief magistrate and his cabinet or council; or the council, or ministry, alone, as in Great Britain. A mild and popular administration. Macaulay. The administration has been opposed in parli…

Superiority; mastery; -- with of or over. Lest Satan should get an advantage of us. 2 Cor. ii. 11.

Coming from outward causes; superadded. [Obs.]

Added extrinsically; not essentially inherent; accidental or causal; additional; supervenient; foreign. To things of great dimensions, if we annex an adventitious idea of terror, they become without comparison greater. Burke.

council; their opinion is merely advisory. The General Association has a general advisory superintendence over all the ministers and churches. Trumbull.

ly replaced by a, the long e or ee. In derivatives from Latin words with ae, it is mostly superseded by e. For most words found with this initial combination, the reader will therefore search under the letter E.

A magistrate in ancient Rome, who had the superintendence of public buildings, highways, shows, etc.; hence, a municipal officer.

A superior spiritual relationship or attraction held to exist sometimes between persons, esp. persons of the opposite sex; also, the man or woman who exerts such psychical or spiritual attraction.