a. Also 5–6 -habunda(u)nt, -habounda(u)nt, 6–7 -aboundant; 7 sup’rabundant. [ad. late L. superabundant-, -ans, pres. pple. of superabundāre to SUPERABOUND: see -ANT. (Cf. F. surabondant.)]
1. Abounding above something else, or above measure; more than (barely) sufficient, enough and to spare; exceedingly abundant or plentiful. Now rare or merged in 2 (but cf. next, 1).
c. 1410. Hoccleve, Min. Poems, in De Reg. Princ. (1897), p. xlix. To þat only was thi talent & thi chiere So suffisaunt, lo,—that oure raunsoum were Superhabundaunt over þat was due.
1508. Fisher, 7 Penit. Ps. cxxx. Wks. (1876), 207. Of the whiche superhaboundaunt mercy we haue … spoken.
1592. Nashe, Strange Newes (1593), 69. I wish into thee all superabundant increase.
a. 1633. Austin, Medit. (1635), 112. The Passion of Christ… was not onely a sufficient, but a superabundant satisfaction for the sinne, of all Mankind.
1683. Brit. Spec., 249. Out of their superabundant Loyalty.
1728. Morgan, Algiers, II. ii. 234. Every Nation has its Peculiarities; nor has Ours abundance of Reason to brag of its super-abundant Regularity.
1830. Mackintosh, Eth. Philos., Wks. 1846, I. 215. His gratitude and native modesty dictated a superabundant care in softening and excusing his dissent from those who had been his own instructors.
2. Abounding above what is fitting or needful; exceeding the normal or required amount; too abundant; more than sufficient (in a bad sense).
[1432–50: cf. SUPERABUNDANTLY 2].
1531. Elyot, Gov., III. xi. Whan the bloode is corrupted, and eyther fleame or Colere … is superhabundaunt, than in the body be ingendred sores and diseases.
1636. in Collect. (Oxf. Hist. Soc.), I. 281. Out of a superaboundant caution.
1753. Chambers’ Cycl., Suppl. s.v. Wine, Vinegar which has once thrown off the super-abundant earthy parts, and many of the oily ones.
1815. J. Smith, Panorama Sci. & Art, II. 363. This forces the superabundant mercury from the amalgam, and renders it solid.
1835. Thirlwall, Greece, viii. I. 324. A superabundant population might have been easily discharged by the ordinary expedient of a colony.
1871. H. Macmillan, True Vine, v. 216. The leaves … need sometimes to be taken away, as super-abundant foliage would shade the fruit.
† b. Abounding overmuch in, having or containing too much (of something). Obs. rare.
1644. Digby, Nat. Bodies, xxiv. § 8. 222. Vnlesse the mothers seede, do supply or temper, what the fathers was defectiue or superaboundant in.
