super-

a prefix occurring originally in loanwords from Latin, with the basic meaning "above, beyond." Words formed with super- have the following general senses: "to place or be placed above or over" (superimpose; supersede), "a thing placed over or added to another" (superscript; superstructure; supertax), "situated over" (superficial; superlunary) and, more figuratively, "an individual, thing, or property that exceeds customary norms or levels" (superalloy; superconductivity; superman; superstar), "an individual or thing larger, more powerful, or with wider application than others of its kind" (supercomputer; superhighway; superpower; supertanker),

"exceeding the norms or limits of a given class" (superhuman; superplastic), "having the specified property to a great or excessive degree" (supercritical; superfine; supersensitive), "to subject to (a physical process) to an extreme degree or in an unusual way" (supercharge; supercool; supersaturate), "a category that embraces a number of lesser items of the specified kind" (superfamily; supergalaxy), "a chemical compound with a higher proportion than usual of a given constituent" (superphosphate).

[ < L super (prep. and v. prefix) above, beyond, in addition, to an especially high degree; akin to Gk hypér (see HYPER-), Skt upari; see OVER]

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