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".
superlative (adjective), more superlative, most superlative
1. A reference to the highest quality of something that is surpassing all others: Monroe had superlative technical advice when he was asked to show Jim how to use his new computer.
2. In grammar, pertaining to, or noting the highest degree of the comparison of adjectives and adverbs: Here are examples of words that show superlative forms:
4. Descriptive of an individual or something that is considered to be one of the best: Bill's superlative acting abilities made the drama much more successful.
5. The utmost degree: Ted's new car was described as the most superlative model in its class because no other vehicle had such a high degree of quality!
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2. In grammar, pertaining to, or noting the highest degree of the comparison of adjectives and adverbs: Here are examples of words that show superlative forms:
- small = smallest
- good = best
- carefully = most carefully
4. Descriptive of an individual or something that is considered to be one of the best: Bill's superlative acting abilities made the drama much more successful.
5. The utmost degree: Ted's new car was described as the most superlative model in its class because no other vehicle had such a high degree of quality!
Did you notice that the image above indicates that it is identified as an adjective; however, isn't the speaker using it as if it were a noun?
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superlatively (adverb), more superlatively, most superlatively
In an exceptionally good way or of the highest quality and in the greatest possible way.
superman
1. A person of extraordinary or superhuman powers.
2. An ideal superior man who, according to Nietzsche, forgoes transient pleasure, exercises creative power, lives at a level of experience beyond standards of good and evil, and is the goal of human evolution.
3. A superior being conceived as the product of human evolution.
4. One who prevails by virtue of being a ruthless egoist of superior strength, cunning, and force of will.
2. An ideal superior man who, according to Nietzsche, forgoes transient pleasure, exercises creative power, lives at a level of experience beyond standards of good and evil, and is the goal of human evolution.
3. A superior being conceived as the product of human evolution.
4. One who prevails by virtue of being a ruthless egoist of superior strength, cunning, and force of will.
supermania
An excessive form of mania above and beyond a normal situation.
supernal
1. Celestial; heavenly.
2. Coming from, of, or being in the sky or high above.
2. Coming from, of, or being in the sky or high above.
supernally
1. A reference to being or coming from on high.
2. Characterized by being located in or belonging to the sky.
2. Characterized by being located in or belonging to the sky.
supernatant (adjective) (not comparable)
1. Referring to something which swims above or floats on the surface: The cook skimmed the supernatant fat off the top of the water of the boiled meat.
3. Etymology: From Latin supernatare, "to float"; from super-, "above, over" + natare, "to swim".
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Oil is a supernatant fluid that moves on the surface of water.
2. A reference to that part of a floating body that is above the top of river or oceanic areas: There are all kinds of supernatant boats that can be suspended on water.3. Etymology: From Latin supernatare, "to float"; from super-, "above, over" + natare, "to swim".
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An object or liquid that floats above or on the surface of a liquid.
supernatural (adjective), more supernatural, most supernatural
1. Pertaining to, or being above or beyond what is natural; unexplainable by logic or phenomena; abnormal: In the book Chuck was reading, a girl was supposed to have supernatural powers.
2. Characteristic of, or attributed to God or a deity: In some religions, people believe that there is a supernatural or spiritual being that affects the direction of human behavior or events.
3. Concerning something of a superlative degree; preternatural: In the film Teddy was watching there was a missile with supernatural speed.
4. A reference to, or attributed to ghosts, goblins, or other unearthly beings; eerie; occult: Mary had a book about supernatural and phantom-like beings moving around in dark places near people.
5. Referring to a being, place, object, occurrence, etc., considered as mysterious or of unearthly origin: Meg loved to see movies showing scary, mystic, and supernatural occurrences outside the natural order.
6. Descriptive of a behavior supposedly caused by the intervention of unearthly beings: A diviner or magician may have supernatural powers which many people believe in!
7. Denoting paranormal forces and the extrasensory plane of existence: The couple had a deep fear of the supernatural souls and apparitions when they walked by the cemetery.
2. Characteristic of, or attributed to God or a deity: In some religions, people believe that there is a supernatural or spiritual being that affects the direction of human behavior or events.
3. Concerning something of a superlative degree; preternatural: In the film Teddy was watching there was a missile with supernatural speed.
4. A reference to, or attributed to ghosts, goblins, or other unearthly beings; eerie; occult: Mary had a book about supernatural and phantom-like beings moving around in dark places near people.
5. Referring to a being, place, object, occurrence, etc., considered as mysterious or of unearthly origin: Meg loved to see movies showing scary, mystic, and supernatural occurrences outside the natural order.
6. Descriptive of a behavior supposedly caused by the intervention of unearthly beings: A diviner or magician may have supernatural powers which many people believe in!
7. Denoting paranormal forces and the extrasensory plane of existence: The couple had a deep fear of the supernatural souls and apparitions when they walked by the cemetery.
1. A belief in or doctrine of a mysterious agency that intervenes in the course of natural law: Supernaturalism is a conviction or view that a devine agency is revealed in human events or in religious revelations.
2. The quality of a preternatural character or agency: Supernaturalism includes the powers of beings that go beyond natural forces and cannot be understood by people.
2. The quality of a preternatural character or agency: Supernaturalism includes the powers of beings that go beyond natural forces and cannot be understood by people.
supernaturally (adverb), more supernaturally, most supernaturally
1. Descriptive of how entities, events, or powers occur and cannot be explained by the laws of the natural world: Joe seemingly was supernaturally popular and favoured by all at the college, even by the professors!
2. Relating to how something departs from what is considered usual or normal, especially so as to appear to transcend the laws of nature and attributed to an invisible agent, such as a ghost or spirit: The death of the mailman couldn't be explained at all and the doctors couldn't claifiy his departure from life at all, so it was defined as happening supernaturally by an apparition of his past.
2. Relating to how something departs from what is considered usual or normal, especially so as to appear to transcend the laws of nature and attributed to an invisible agent, such as a ghost or spirit: The death of the mailman couldn't be explained at all and the doctors couldn't claifiy his departure from life at all, so it was defined as happening supernaturally by an apparition of his past.
supernormal (adjective), more supernormal, most supernormal
Characteristic of anyone or anything going beyond what is average but still existing in a natural way: Matthew had a supernormal intelligence that amazed people whenever they talked with him about scientific phenomena or mathematical concepts.
supernova
1. The explosion of a star, possibly caused by gravitational collapse, during which the star's luminosity increases by as much as twenty magnitudes and most of the star's mass is blown away at very high velocity, sometimes leaving behind an extremely dense core.
2. A rare celestial phenomenon involving the explosion of most of the material in a star, resulting in an extremely bright, short-lived object that emits vast amounts of energy.
2. A rare celestial phenomenon involving the explosion of most of the material in a star, resulting in an extremely bright, short-lived object that emits vast amounts of energy.
supernumerary (adjective), more supernumerary, most supernumerary
1. Conveying an overabundance of the normal or prescribed number of presentations: There were supernumerary or excessive repetitions of broadcasts about the killings of the women and children by the insane soldier.
2. Beyond what a regular body or staff consists of: Paul was hired as a supernumerary assistant, or substitute, for anyone who could not show up for work because of an illness or for any other emergency situation.
3. Exceeding the required or desired number or estimate; superfluous: The supernumerary tornadoes caused great destruction and loss of lives in several areas.
4. Descriptive of a person who appears in a play or film without speaking lines or as part of a crowd; a walk-on; an extra: Jennifer and the other people who were in the background of the street scene of the movie were supernumerary actors.
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2. Beyond what a regular body or staff consists of: Paul was hired as a supernumerary assistant, or substitute, for anyone who could not show up for work because of an illness or for any other emergency situation.
3. Exceeding the required or desired number or estimate; superfluous: The supernumerary tornadoes caused great destruction and loss of lives in several areas.
4. Descriptive of a person who appears in a play or film without speaking lines or as part of a crowd; a walk-on; an extra: Jennifer and the other people who were in the background of the street scene of the movie were supernumerary actors.
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superovulation
1. The production of mature ova at an accelerated rate or in a large number at one time.
2. The stimulation of multiple ovulations with fertility drugs.
3. Extraordinary acceleration of ovulation, producing a greater than normal number of ova, usually as a result of the administration of exogenous gonadotropins.
4. Stimulation of multiple ovulation with fertility drugs; also known as controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH).
2. The stimulation of multiple ovulations with fertility drugs.
3. Extraordinary acceleration of ovulation, producing a greater than normal number of ova, usually as a result of the administration of exogenous gonadotropins.
4. Stimulation of multiple ovulation with fertility drugs; also known as controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH).
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-.
