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.
Su*pe"ri*or (?), a. [L., compar. of
superus being above, fr. super above, over: cf. F.
supérieur. 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
x2 + yn, 2 is a superior figure,
n a superior letter. Cf. Inferior figure, under
Inferior.