[f. SUPER- II. after subordinate.] Superior in rank: the opposite of SUBORDINATE. Now only in Logic. Const. to.
1620. T. Scott, God & King (1623), 84. You that are next the lowest, consider the like, and so successiuely as you are superordinate.
1802–12. Bentham, Ration. Judic. Evid. (1827), I. 59. The judge of appeal, superordinate to the judge Whatsoever patronage is in the hands of the subordinate and obeying body, in reality belongs to the superordinate and commanding.
1864. Bowen, Logic, iv. 87. Animal is Superior or Superordinate to mammal.
b. sb. One who is superior in rank; a superior.
1802–12. Bentham, Ration. Judic. Evid. (1827), V. 556, note. This unlearned judge copying the pattern set him by his learned superordinates. Ibid. (1816–30), Offic. Apt. Maximized, Extract Const. Code (1830), 14. Service rendered by a subordinate, the superordinate not having contributed any thing to the performance of it.
