səˈplant, -laa(ə)nt, -laint, -lȧnt transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English supplanten, from Middle French supplanter from Latin supplantare to overthrow by tripping up, throw down, from sub- + planta sole of the foot — more at place
1. obsolete : to cause to fall : trip up
2. archaic : to cause the downfall of : bring low in estate, power, potency, or virtue
3. : to supersede (another) especially by force, trickery, or treachery : usurp the place or possessions of
the pretty young wife finds herself … having been supplanted by a brisk, unlovely woman — Gerald Bullett
4.
a.
(1) obsolete : to root out : uproot
(2) : to completely remove from a situation and replace : eradicate and supply a substitute for
supplant hysteria with common sense — Bradford Smith
the attempt of an alien administration to supplant the vernacular — R.M.Lovett
attempts to supplant the representational theory by a position which it considers more adequate — Hunter Mead
b. : to take the place of : oust from a position and serve as a substitute for especially by reason of superior excellence or power
this cheap and useful material rapidly supplanted the expensive iron — Tom Marvel
it supplements rather than supplants the private agencies — Times Literary Supplement
Synonyms: see replace