super-, supra-, sur-
(Latin: above, over; more than, excessive)
Sur- is a variation of super- developed through the French and shouldn't be confused with another assimilated sur- form that comes from sub- and means: "under, below, beneath".
In some words, super- is amplified to mean: "on top of; higher in rank or position than; superior to; greater in quality, amount, or degree than others of its kind".
2. To bring in or to induce as an added feature, circumstance, etc.; to superimpose.
2. The act of supervising or managing a situation or people.
2. The position or work of a superintendent.
2. Of a higher nature or kind: "If you go to the new butcher shop, you will be able to get a superior cut of beef."
"The superior actor received a special award for his outstanding performances."
3. Of great value or excellence; extraordinary: "These superior diamonds were sold at much higher prices than the others."4. Greater in number or amount than another: "The army was defeated by the superior forces of enemy troops."
5. Affecting an attitude of disdain or conceit; haughty and supercilious: "Her superior manner made people resent being around her."
6. More advanced or better: "The student's superior knowledge of classical languages was an advantage for the dictionary organization."
7. Located higher than another; upper: "The collections of books on the superior shelves made it necessary for him use a small ladder to get access to them."
8. In printing, set above the main line of type: "This number, 1010, is an example of superior printing."
2. The head of a religious community, as in an abbey or convent: "The priest was a superior in the local monastery."
3. In printing, a superior character: The number "2" in x2 is a superior symbol."
2. Of a higher nature or kind.
3. Of great value or excellence; extraordinary.
4. Greater in number or amount than another quantity.
5. Affecting an attitude of disdain or conceit: "He was haughty and supercilious with his co-workers."
6. Above being affected or influenced; indifferent or immune.
7. Located higher than another; upper.
8. In botany, inserted or situated above the perianth; such as, an ovary.
9. In printing, set above the main line of type.
10. In logic, of a wider or more comprehensive application; generic. A reference to a term or proposition.
2. A reference to resting or overlying immediately above or upon something else.
3. Etymology: from Latin superjacere, "to lie over"; from super-, "above, over" + jacere, "to lie".
2. An exaggerated or unreasonable expression of praise: The literary critics couldn't find enough superlatives to describe the author's new book.
Go to this Word A Day Revisited Index
so you can see more of Mickey Bach's cartoons.
Related "above, over, beyond the normal, excessive" word units: epi-; hyper-; ultra-, ult-.
Inter-related cross references, directly or indirectly, involving word units meaning "more, plentiful, fullness, excessive, over flowing": copi-; exuber-; hyper-; multi-; opulen-; ple-; pleio-; plethor-; poly-; total-; ultra-; undu-.