supervisor mode

from The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)

supervisor mode

   (Or "{supervisor state}") An execution mode on some processors
   which enables execution of all instructions, including
   {privileged instructions}.  It may also give access to
   different a {address space}, to {memory management} hardware
   and to other peripherals.  This is the mode in which the
   {operating system} usually runs.

   Opposite: {user mode}.

   (1995-02-15)