Superior SUPE'RIOR, a. [Sp.L. from super, above.] 1. Higher; upper;
more elevated in place; 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, goodness or
value of any quality; as a man of superior merit, of superior bravery,
of superior talents or understanding, of superior accomplishments.
4. Being beyond the power or influence of; too great or firm to be
subdued or affected by; as a man superior to revenge. There is
not on earth a spectacle more worthy than a great man superior to his
sufferings. 5. In botany, a superior flower has the receptacle
of the flower above the germ; a superior germ is included within the
corol. SUPE'RIOR, n. One who is more advanced in age. Old
persons or elders are the superiors of the young. 1. One who is more
elevated in rank or office. 2. One who surpasses others in dignity,
excellence or qualities of any kind. As a writer of pure English, Addison
has no superior. 3. The chief of a monastery, convent or abbey.
superior
adj 1: of high or superior quality or performance; "superior
wisdom derived from experience"; "superior math students"
[ant: inferior]
2: of or characteristic of high rank or importance; "a superior
ruler" [ant: inferior]
3: (sometimes followed by `to') not subject to or influenced by;
"overcome by a superior opponent"; "trust magnates who felt
themselves superior to law"
4: written or printed above and to one side of another character
[syn: superscript, superior] [ant: adscript,
inferior, subscript]
5: having an orbit farther from the sun than the Earth's orbit;
"Mars and Jupiter are the closest in of the superior planets"
[ant: inferior]
6: having a higher rank; "superior officer" [syn: ranking(a),
superior, higher-ranking]
7: (often followed by `to') above being affected or influenced
by; "he is superior to fear"; "an ignited firework proceeds
superior to circumstances until its blazing vitality fades"
n 1: one of greater rank or station or quality [syn: superior,
higher-up, superordinate] [ant: inferior]
2: the head of a religious community
3: a combatant who is able to defeat rivals [syn: victor,
master, superior]
4: the largest freshwater lake in the world; the deepest of the
Great Lakes [syn: Lake Superior, Superior]
5: a town in northwest Wisconsin on Lake Superior across from
Duluth
6: a character or symbol set or printed or written above and
immediately to one side of another character [syn:
superscript, superior] [ant: inferior, subscript]
superior I. adjectiveEtymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin, comparative
of superus upper, from super over, above — more at overDate: 14th century 1. situated higher up ;upper2. of higher rank, quality, or importance 3. courageously
or serenely indifferent (as to something painful or disheartening) 4.a. greater in quantity or numbers <escaped by superior
speed> b. excellent of its kind ;better <her
superior memory>
5. being a superscript 6.a.of an animal structure situated above or anterior or
dorsal to another and especially a corresponding part <a superior
artery> b.of a plant structure situated above or near
the top of another part: as
(1)of a calyx attached to and apparently arising from
the ovary (2)of an ovary free from the calyx or other
floral envelope
7. more comprehensive <a genus is superior to a species>
8. affecting or assuming an air of superiority ;supercilious
• superiorlyadverbII. nounDate: 15th century 1. one who is
above another in rank, station, or office; especially the head of
a religious house or order 2. one that surpasses another in quality
or merit 3.superscript
superior adj. & n. --adj. 1 in a higher position; of higher rank (a superior officer; a superior court). 2 a above the average in quality etc. (made of superior leather). b having or
showing a high opinion of oneself; supercilious (had a superior air). 3 (often foll. by to) a better or greater in some respect (superior to its rivals in speed). b above yielding, making
concessions, paying attention, etc. (is superior to bribery; superior to temptation). 4 further above or out; higher, esp.: a Astron. (of a planet) having an orbit further from the sun than the
earth's. b Zool. (of an insect's wings) folding over others. c Printing (of figures or letters) placed above the line. d Bot. (of the calyx) above the ovary. e Bot. (of the ovary) above the
calyx. --n. 1 a person superior to another in rank, character, etc. (is deferential to his superiors; is his superior in courage). 2 (fem. superioress) Eccl. the head of a monastery or other
religious institution (Mother Superior; Father Superior). 3 Printing a superior letter or figure. Phrases and idioms: superior numbers esp. Mil. more men etc. or their strength
(overcome by superior numbers). superior persons esp. iron. the better educated or élite; prigs. Derivatives: superiorly adv. Etymology: ME f. OF superiour f. L superior
-oris, compar. of superus that is above f. super above
superior
(superiors)Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1. If one thing or person is superiorto another, the first is better than
the second.
We have a relationship infinitely superior to those of many of our friends...Long-term stock market investments have produced superior returns compared with cash
deposits.≠ inferior
ADJ: oft ADJ to n
• superiorityThe technical superiority of laser discs over tape is well established.N-UNCOUNT: oft N over/to n
2. If you describe something as superior, you mean that it is good, and better than
other things of the same kind.
A few years ago it was virtually impossible to find superior quality coffee in local
shops...Lulu was said to be of very superior intelligence.ADJ
3. A superior person or thing is more important than another person or thing in the
same organization or system.
...negotiations between the mutineers and their superior officers...ADJ: oft ADJ to n
4. Your superior in an organization that you work for is a person who has a higher rank
than you.
Other army units are completely surrounded and cut-off from communication with their
superiors...≠ subordinate
N-COUNT: poss N
5. If you describe someone as superior, you disapprove of them because they behave as
if they are better, more important, or more intelligent than other people.
Finch gave a superior smile...ADJ [disapproval]
• superiority...a false sense of his superiority over mere journalists.N-UNCOUNT: oft N over n
6. If one group of people has superior numbers to another group, the first has more
people than the second, and therefore has an advantage over it. (FORMAL)
The demonstrators fled when they saw the authorities' superior numbers...ADJ
superior
sju:ˈpɪərɪə adj. & n. --adj. 1 in a higher position; of
higher rank (a superior officer; a superior court). 2 a above the average
in quality etc. (made of superior leather). b having or showing a high
opinion of oneself; supercilious (had a superior air). 3 (often foll. by to)
a better or greater in some respect (superior to its rivals in speed). b
above yielding, making concessions, paying attention, etc. (is superior to
bribery; superior to temptation). 4 further above or out; higher, esp.:
a Astron. (of a planet) having an orbit further from the sun than the
earth's. b Zool. (of an insect's wings) folding over others. c Printing
(of figures or letters) placed above the line. d Bot. (of the calyx) above
the ovary. e Bot. (of the ovary) above the calyx. --n. 1 a person superior
to another in rank, character, etc. (is deferential to his superiors; is his
superior in courage). 2 (fem. superioress) Eccl. the head of a monastery or
other religious institution (Mother Superior; Father Superior). 3 Printing
a superior letter or figure. øsuperior numbers esp. Mil. more men etc. or
their strength (overcome by superior numbers). superior persons esp. iron. the
better educated or ÷lite; prigs. øøsuperiorly adv. [ME f. OF superiour
f. L superior -oris, compar. of superus that is above f. super above]
Superior \Su*pe"ri*or\, a. [L., compar. of superus being above,
fr. super above, over: cf. F. sup['e]rieur. 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 x^{2} + y^{n}, 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.) The head of a monastery, convent, abbey, or the
like.
Superior, AZ (town, FIPS 71300)
Location: 33.28585 N, 111.10948 W
Population (1990): 3468 (1730 housing units)
Area: 4.6 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 85273
Superior, CO (town, FIPS 75640)
Location: 39.92920 N, 105.15493 W
Population (1990): 255 (113 housing units)
Area: 9.3 sq km (land), 0.1 sq km (water)
Superior, IA (city, FIPS 76440)
Location: 43.43267 N, 94.94708 W
Population (1990): 128 (62 housing units)
Area: 1.1 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 51363
Superior, MT (town, FIPS 72625)
Location: 47.19436 N, 114.89423 W
Population (1990): 881 (386 housing units)
Area: 2.8 sq km (land), 0.3 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 59872
Superior, NE (city, FIPS 47815)
Location: 40.02239 N, 98.06775 W
Population (1990): 2397 (1190 housing units)
Area: 3.7 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 68978
Superior, WI (city, FIPS 78650)
Location: 46.69687 N, 92.05960 W
Population (1990): 27134 (11684 housing units)
Area: 95.7 sq km (land), 47.9 sq km (water)
Superior, WI (village, FIPS 78660)
Location: 46.65366 N, 92.10550 W
Population (1990): 481 (195 housing units)
Area: 3.2 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 54880
superior
a.1. High, higher, upper, paramount, more elevated.
2. Of higher rank, more exalted, more dignified.
3. Surpassing, noble, more eminent, more excellent, preferable, greater.
4. Predominant, prevalent.
superior
sju:ˈpɪərɪə adj.
1 higher, higher-ranking, higher-level, higher-class, higher-calibre, upper, upper-level,
upper-class, loftier, nobler, better; of a higher order or status or standing, Colloq classier,
tonier: He was reported to his superior officer.
2 high-class, elevated, first-rate, distinguished, exceptional, excellent, preferred,
choice, select, ÷litist, outstanding, superlative, matchless, unequalled, peerless, nonpareil,
sterling, supreme, fine, noteworthy, notable, worthy, estimable: Kenneth has had the benefit
of a superior education.
3 See supercilious, above. --n.
4 See supervisor, below.
On most web browsers you can double click any word on this page to see what definitions I have for that word.
This dictionary server is not an authoratative source of information for anything. Like almost everything at sorabji.com, I set this up for my own purposes. In this case the purpose is to
browse words and ideas at random. An automatically generated page that produces 1000 Random Words
is my gateway to this resource. I also attempt a word of the day project,
in which I attempt to write something about myself starting with interesting words that I find through the Wordswarm Random Words Pages. I have made
available the complete 1828 Webster's Dictionary, which many feel is the greatest English dictionary ever published.
Other random links of mine include the Sorabji.com Random Link, which sends you to one of
over 7,000 pages on my web sites; the Face Server produces random images of
human faces; clicking the Random WAYD link shows you a random posting to my "What Are You Doing?" board; the Random USPS
Mailbox link sends you to a page with information about a random mailbox; and the random pictures page page of sorabji.com shows one of over 11,000 random images any time you load the page. On an unrelated note, I have begun making several thousand pages of legal documents searchable.