v. [ad. F. surpasser (= obs. It. sorpassare), f. sur- = SUPER- 2 + passer to PASS.]
1. trans. To pass over, go beyond, overstep (a limit): often in fig. context; also, to go beyond (a certain period of time). Obs. or arch.
1588. Kyd, Househ. Philos., Wks. (1901), 240. The Ryuer … was swoln so high as it farre surpast the wonted limmits.
1652. C. B. Stapylton, Herodian, I. 3. Infamous was the Life of Ptolomy, Surpassing bounds of Civill Modesty.
1667. Milton, P. L., XI. 894. Nor let the Sea Surpass his bounds.
1706. E. Ward, Wooden World Diss. (1708), 82. He cooks by the Hour-Glass…; and will no more surpass one Puncto of Time, than a scrupulous Virtuoso in the Concoction of his Stomach.
1788. V. Knox, Winter Even., II. V. viii. 173. In poetical excellence … he cannot be said to have often surpassed the line of mediocrity.
1799. J. Robertson, Agric. Perth, 237. If they are left to surpass the ordinary period, the succeeding growth suffers.
1839. Thackeray, Leg. St. Sophia of Kioff, xix. Nor cared they to surpass the river’s bank.
† 2. To pass or mount above; to surmount. Obs.
1639. Drumm. of Hawth., Conv. w. B. Jonson, Wks. (1711), 226. The one flying swift, but low; the other, like the eagle, surpassing the clouds.
1769. Pennant, Brit. Zool., III. 241. Salmon … gain the sources of the Lapland rivers…, and surpass the perpendicular falls of Leixslip [etc.].
b. To extend above or beyond. Now rare.
1601. Holland, Pliny, XXVII. i. II. 269. High mountains also and the cliffes surpassing the verie clouds.
1687. A. Lovell, trans. Thevenot’s Trav., II. 80. This frontispiece hath a Minaret on each side which surpass it above three fathom in height.
1852. Macgillivray, Brit. Birds, V. 474. Tarsus two inches long; wings surpassing the tail by two inches.
1880. T. W. Webb, in Nature, 1 Jan., 212/2. Where mountain masses were capped with dense clouds, or surpassed the level of perpetual snow.
3. To go beyond (another) in degree, amount or quality; to be or do more or better than; to be greater than, to exceed; to be superior to, to excel.
1555. Bradford, in Strype, Eccl. Mem. (1721), III. App. xlv. 127. The natural love that I beare to my natyve countrye, surpassing all daungers that maye chaunce to my bodye and goods.
a. 1586. Sidney, Arcadia, I. xiii. Philoclea … muche resembling (though I must say much surpassing) the Ladie Zelmane.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., I. x. 58. This great Citie that does far surpas.
1625. Meade, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. I. III. 209. You may see … how much this Plague, for the time and number, surpasses that of 1603.
1667. Milton, P. L., I. 778. They … who seemd In bigness to surpass Earths Giant Sons. Ibid., II. 370. This would surpass Common revenge.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 5 May 1645. A villa … surpassing the most delicious places I ever beheld.
1802. Paley, Nat. Theol., xxvi. (1819), 449. The gifts of nature always surpass the gifts of fortune.
1819. Keats, Fall Hyperion, I. 337. The Goddess,… Surpassing wan Moneta by the head.
1827. Faraday, Chem. Manip., v. (1842), 165. The silica will be in a state of division far surpassing any which can be obtained merely by mechanical means.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. xviii. 133. The heat surpassed anything of the kind I had ever felt.
1874. Green, Short Hist., iii. § 2. 118. In the rapidity and breadth of his political combinations he far surpassed the statesmen of his time.
b. To exceed (a specified measure, as weight, speed, etc.). rare.
1591. in Picton, L’pool Munic. Rec. (1883), I. 83. That anie one townes man … shall … buie anie rendred tallowe not surpassing one cwt of roughe tallowe.
1898. Daily News, 21 Sept., 3/1. The Boa was not put to her highest speed, but during the run out to the Nore and back she surpassed 24 knots an hour.
c. To go beyond (something done or existing) in action or achievement; to do something that is more or better than.
1592. Shaks., Ven. & Ad., 289. When a Painter would surpasse the life, In limming out a well proportioned steed.
1728. Young, Love Fame, III. 120. The plenteous harvest calls me forward still, Till I surpass in length my lawyer’s bill.
1841. D’Israeli, Amen. Lit., xv. (1867), 176. Johnson surpassed all his preceding labours in his last work.
1842. Loudon, Suburban Hort., 249. These seeds not only germinated well, but in rapidity surpassed my expectations.
4. To be beyond the range, reach or capacity of; to be more than can be attained, achieved or apprehended by; to be too much or too great for; to transcend.
1592. Soliman & Pers., III. i. 101. The least of these surpasse my best desart.
1611. Shaks., Wint. T., III. i. 2. The Temple much surpassing The common prayse it beares.
1642. H. More, Song of Soul, II. iii. II. viii. Not multiplying beings to surpasse Their use.
1671. Milton, Samson, 1313. Thy strength they know surpassing human rate.
1784. Cowper, Task, IV. 710. His Paradise surpass’d The struggling efforts of my boyish tongue To speak its excellence. Ibid., VI. 759. Oh scenes surpassing fable, and yet true.
1850. McCosh, Div. Govt., IV. ii. (1874), 488. This surpasses the utmost exertions of human ingenuity.
1861. Buckle, Civiliz. (1873), II. viii. 504. The poverty and wretchedness of the people surpass all description.
1897. Gladstone, E. Crisis, 2. The Armenian massacres, judiciously interspersed with intervals of breathing-time, have surpassed in their scale, and in the intensity and diversity of their wickedness, all modern, if not all historical experience.
