WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Su"per-.
Etymology : [L. super over, above; akin to Gr. sub under, and E. over. See Over, and cf. Hyper-, Sub-, Supra-, Sur-.]
Definition : 1. A prefix signifying above, over, beyond, and hence often denoting in a superior position, in excess, over and above, in addition, exceedingly; as in superimpose, supersede, supernatural, superabundance.

2. (Chem.)

Defn: A prefix formerly much used to denote that the ingredient to the name of which it was prefixed was present in a large, or unusually large, proportion as compared with the other ingredients; as in calcium superphosphate. It has been superseded by per-, bi-, di-, acid, etc. (as peroxide, bicarbonate, disulphide, and acid sulphate), which retain the old meanings of super-, but with sharper definition. Cf. Acid, a., Bi-, Di-, and Per-.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913