I. səˈpirēə(r), -pēr- sometimes süˈp- adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French superieur, from Latin superior, comp. of superus that is above, upper, from super over, above — more at over
1. : situated higher up or farther from a bottom or base : higher , upper
2.
a.
(1) : of higher degree or rank
insubordinate to his superior officer
the eight superior grades were limited to girls — Robert Lowell
(2) : taking precedence
a superior allegiance to a foreign government — Sidney Hook
certain rights are superior to constitutions and to statute laws — Isaac Lippincott
(3) : of high degree or rank
superior classes of society
b.
(1) : of a higher order, nature, or kind
superior wisdom derived from experience — G.T.Trewartha
(2) : not material or natural : spiritual , supernatural
the subtle and superior meaning which underlay the literal meaning of Holy Writ — G.C.Sellery
(3) : having or seeming to have a higher level of reality or existence
they are more immediate than the world of friendship, nutrition, and fatigue … and they are frequently superior to it — Bernard DeVoto
3. : courageously or serenely indifferent (as to something painful, disheartening, or demoralizing) : staunchly unyielding in self-control or morale
he is superior to that fear — G.B.Shaw
4.
a.
(1) : of more importance, value, usefulness, or merit : of higher quality, accomplishment, or significance
true progress is something superior to your puffing engines and clicking telegraphs — C.B.Fairbanks
a class of superior children
a smaller proportion … of superior looks and a minuscule number of superlative ones — Katharine T. Kinkead
(2) : of greater force, influence, or efficaciousness
the uplifting movements proved to be far superior to the processes of erosion — W.W.Atwood †1949
overcome by a superior opponent
(3) : greater in quantity or amount
retreated before superior numbers
nor is the tuition greatly superior to that of the tax-supported schools — B.K.Sandwell
escaped by superior speed — Edward Breck
b. of a railroad train : having the right of way over another
c. : notably excellent of its kind : surpassingly good
men of delicate fancy, urbane instinct and aristocratic manner — in brief, superior men — H.L.Mencken
he may have graduated to a more superior abode — Allan Forbes & R.M.Eastman
delighted in his superior ability to memorize — Current Biography
the paintings on the north wall appear to be by a different and slightly superior hand — O.Elfrida Saunders
the superior durability of parchment — G.G.Coulton
5. : superscript — used usually postpositionally
“line 57 b ” is read “line five seven b superior ”
— contrasted with inferior
6.
a. of a part of the upright body : situated above another and especially another similar part — distinguished from inferior
b. of a part of the quadrupedal body
(1) : situated in a more anterior position
(2) : situated more dorsad than another and especially another similar part : dorsal
7. of a part of a plant
a. : situated above another organ:
(1) of a calyx : attached to and apparently arising from the ovary
(2) of an ovary : free from the calyx or other floral envelope
b. : adaxial
c. : situated near the top of the stipe — used especially of the annulus of a mushroom
8. : more comprehensive
a genus is superior to a species
forming a superior unit out of diversity — Manès Sperber
9. : affecting or assuming an air of superiority : supercilious , haughty
moments when the modern audience can feel superior and amused — Delmore Schwartz
II. noun
( -s )
1.
a. : one who is above another in rank, station, or office
went first to his immediate superior
as
(1) : a head of a religious house or a religious order
superior of the monastery
(2) : the lord or his heir in feudal law from whom a vassal receives a fee and to whom he owes allegiance and tribute
b. : one that surpasses another in quality, merit, or excellence
2. : a superscript character (as in printing)
III. adverb
: in a superior manner : with superiority