[-SHIP.] The office or position of a superintendent.
1583. Stocker, Civ. Warres Lowe C., II. 57 b. Diuers deuises were practized, to obtaine & keepe ye authority & superintendentship in his Ma. countries.
1589. [? Nashe], Almond for Parrat, D 4 b. G. W. of Wig-house chosen to the … function of a pastor,… at length seased … on the superintendentship of Sidborough.
a. 1650. Calderwood, Hist. Kirk (1843), II. 207. The Assemblie nominated in leets for the superintendentship, Mr Alexander Gordoun, intituled Bishop of Galloway, and Mr Robert Pont, minister of Dunkelden.
1693. Lond. Gaz., No. 2919/1. The Super-Intendantship of his Catholick Majesties Revenues.
1888. Pall Mall Gaz., 8 Oct., 3/2. Promotion to a superintendentship direct from the Criminal Investigation Department is forbidden.
1897. Westm. Gaz., 29 Dec., 1/3. The Superintendentship of the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield.
† b. Used with possessive as a depreciatory title for a bishop of the Church of England (see SUPERINTENDENT sb. 2). Obs.
1565. Harding, Confut. Apol., V. x. 256 b. It should haue becomme Scoggin … or Will Sommer, to haue tolde this tale much better, then your superintendentships.
c. A superintendent’s period of office.
1614. Purchas, Pilgrimage, I. xii. (ed. 2), 64. In which his Superintendentship,… such laudable sciences as might safely be learned, he promoted and furthered.
