from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
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.
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2. Higher in rank or office; more exalted in dignity; as, a
superior officer; a superior degree of nobility.
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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.
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4. Beyond the power or influence of; too great or firm to be
subdued or affected by; -- with to.
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There is not in earth a spectacle more worthy than a
great man superior to his sufferings. --Spectator.
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5. More comprehensive; as a term in classification; as, a
genus is superior to a species.
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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.
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{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}.
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