Emily Dickinson Lexicon

SU-PER-STI'TION, n. [Fr. from L. superstitio, supersto; super and sto, to stand.]

1. Excessive exactness or rigor in religious opinions or practice; extreme and unnecessary scruples in the observance of religious rites not commanded, or of points of minor importance; excess or extravagance in religion; the doing things not required by God, or abstaining from things not forbidden; or the belief of what is absurd, or belief without evidence. – Brown. Superstition has reference to God, to religion, or to being superiors to man. – Encyc.
2. False religion; false worship.
3. Rite or practice proceeding from excess of scruples in religion. In this sense, it admits of a plural. They the truth / With superstitions and traditions taint. – Milton.
4. Excessive nicety; scrupulous exactness.
5. Belief in the direct agency of superior powers in certain extraordinary or singular events, or in omens and prognostics.

SU-PER-STI'TION-IST, n.

One addicted to superstition. – More.

SU-PER-STI'TIOUS, a. [Fr. superstitieux; L. superstitiosus.]

1. Over scrupulous and rigid in religious observances; addicted to superstition; full of idle fancies and scruples in regard to religion; as, superstitious people.
2. Proceeding from superstition; manifesting superstition; as, superstitious rites; superstitious observances.
3. Over exact; scrupulous beyond need. Superstitious use, in law, the use of land for a religious purpose, or by a religious corporation.

SU-PER-STI'TIOUS-LY, adv.

1. In a superstitious manner with excessive regard to uncommanded rites or unessential opinions and forms in religion. – Bacon.
2. With too much care; with excessive exactness or scruple.
3. With extreme credulity in regard to the agency of superior beings in extraordinary events.

SU-PER-STI'TIOUS-NESS, n.

Superstition.

SU-PER-STRAIN, v.t. [super and strain.]

To overstrain or stretch. [Little used.] – Bacon.

SU-PER-STRAIN-ED, pp.

Overstrained or stretched.

SU-PER-STRA'TUM, n. [super and stratum.]

A stratum or layer above another, or resting on something else. – Asiat. Res.

SU-PER-STRUCT', v.t. [L. superstruo; super and struo, to lay.]

To build upon; to erect. This is the only proper basis on which to so superstruct first innocence then virtue. [Little used.] – Decay of Piety.

SU-PER-STRUCT'ED, pp.

Built upon.

SU-PER-STRUCT'ING, ppr.

Building upon.

SU-PER-STRUC'TION, n.

An edifice erected on something. My own profession hath taught me not to erect new superstructions on an old ruin. – Denham.

SU-PER-STRUCT'IVE, a.

Built or erected on something else. – Hammond.

SU-PER-STRUCT'URE, n.

1. Any structure or edifice built on something else; particularly, the building raised on a foundation. This word is used to distinguish what is erected on a wall or foundation from the foundation itself.
2. Any thing erected on a foundation or basis. In education, we begin with teaching languages as the foundation, and proceed to erect on that foundation the superstructure of science.

SU-PER-SUB-STAN'TIAL, a. [super and substantial.]

More than substantial; being more than substance. – Cyc.

SU-PER-SUL'PHATE, n.

Sulphate with a greater number of equivalents of acid than base.

SU-PER-SUL'PHUR-ET-ED, a.

Consisting of a greater number of equivalents of sulphur than of the base with which the sulphur is combined. – Aikin.

SU-PER-TER-RENE, a. [super and terrene.]

Being above ground, or above the earth. – Hill.

SU-PER-TER-RES'TRI-AL, a.

Being above the earth, or above what belongs to the earth. – Buckminster.

SU-PER-TON'IC, n.

In music, the note next above the keynote. – Busby.

SU-PER-TRAG'IC-AL, a.

Tragical to excess. – Warton.

SU-PER-VA-CA'NE-OUS, a. [L. supervacaneus; super and vaco, to make void.]

Superfluous; unnecessary; needless; serving no purpose. – Howell.

SU-PER-VA-CA'NE-OUS-LY, adv.

Needlessly.

SU-PER-VA-CA'NE-OUS-NESS, n.

Needlessness. – Bailey.

SU-PER-VENE, v.i. [L. supervenio; super and venio.]

1. To come upon as something extraneous. Such a mutual gravitation can never supervene to matter, unless impressed by divine power. Bentley.
2. To come upon; to happen to.