a. [ad. L. superēminent-, -ens, pres. pple. of superēminēre to rise above, f. super- SUPER- 2 + ēminēre: see EMINENT and cf. SUPER- 9 a. Cf. obs. F. supereminent, F. suréminent.]
1. Lofty above the rest; supremely or specially high. Now rare.
1555. Eden, Decades, I. VI. (Arb.), 90. Paria is the Region which possesseth the supereminente or hyghest parte thereof.
1615. G. Sandys, Trav., 221. The uttermost promontory that stretcheth to the West, with the supereminent mountaine, now called Capo Saint Pisano.
1635. Heywood, Hierarchy, 4. The lofty Hils, and super-eminent Mountains.
1653. A. Wilson, Jas. I., Proeme 2. When they [sc. Princes] shall so much debase that sublime and supereminent Region they are placed in.
1892. Ld. Lytton, King Poppy, xi. 348. A single supereminent tower.
2. Exalted above others in rank or dignity; supremely exalted.
1583. [W. Cecil], Exec. Justice in Eng., C iii b. Be you subiect … to the King, as to him that is supereminent [1 Pet. ii. 13].
1588. J. Harvey, Disc. Probl., 43. What other nation … may presume to … aduance it selfe unto any such surmounting, and supereminent honor?
a. 1600. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., VIII. viii. § 1. Touching the king’s supereminent authority in commanding.
1640. Bp. Hall, Episc., II. iii. 96. Most manifest it is, that the Apostles of Christ had a supereminent power in Gods Church.
1651. C. Cartwright, Cert. Relig., II. 65. The Marquesse saith, that anciently the Church had one Supereminent (by Divine Law) which was the Pope.
1790. Burke, Rev. France, 63. Were they then to be awed by the supereminent authority and awful dignity of a handful of country clowns?
1861. Pearson, Early & Mid. Ages Eng., 90. A king of Kent is therefore the first supereminent king of England, and he is succeeded by the kings of Northumbria.
† b. Superior to. Obs. rare–1.
1657. J. Watts, Scribe, Pharisee, etc., I. 47. They are infinitely … supereminent to these, as God is above man.
3. Distinguished above others in character or attainment; conspicuous for some quality.
1599. Nashe, Lenten Stuffe, B 2 b. This superiminente principall Metropolis of the redde Fish.
1607. Walkington, Optic Glass, 60. And but for this [proneness to venery] they were supereminent aboue all men.
1611. Speed, Theat. Gt. Brit., xliii. (1614), 85/1. Kendal … for the … practise of making cloath so excels the rest, that in regard thereof it carryeth a supereminent name above them.
1651. Howell, Venice, 203. Som were supereminent for holines, and high virtues.
1875. Helps, Soc. Press., x. 142. With these three super-eminent hosts or hostesses, everything was prepared for me that I could possibly want.
4. Of qualities, conditions, etc.: Specially or supremely remarkable in degree; signal or noteworthy above that of others.
1581. Allen, Apologie, 90 b. The high dignitie of Priesthod … is … commended … for the high supereminent power of doing the vnblouddy sacrifice vpon the altar.
1592. Nashe, Strange Newes (1593), 65. Thy supereminent gifts.
1651. Fuller’s Abel Rediv., Bradford, 181. The noblest, and most supereminent of all other Sciences.
1668. H. More, Div. Dial., V. xxviii. (1713), 495. The anointing of our Head and true High-priest the Lord Jesus … in a supereminent manner.
1787. Polwhele, Engl. Orator, III. 376. The Career Of Talents supereminent and vast.
1835. Poe, Adv. Hans Pfaall, Wks. 1864, I. 4. A fantastic bow-knot of super-eminent dimensions.
1893. Sir R. Ball, Story of Sun, 320. The Sun would begin to be shorn of those supereminent splendours which at present distinguish it.
