DICT.TW Dictionary Taiwan
Su·pe·ri·or a.
1. More elevated in place or position; higher; upper; as, the superior limb of the sun; the superior part of an image.
2. Higher in rank or office; more exalted in dignity; as, a superior officer; a superior degree of nobility.
3. Higher or greater in excellence; surpassing others in the greatness, or value of any quality; greater in quality or degree; as, a man of superior merit; or of superior bravery.
4. Beyond the power or influence of; too great or firm to be subdued or affected by; -- with to.
There is not in earth a spectacle more worthy than a great man superior to his sufferings. --Spectator.
5. More comprehensive; as a term in classification; as, a genus is superior to a species.
6. Bot. (a) Above the ovary; -- said of parts of the flower which, although normally below the ovary, adhere to it, and so appear to originate from its upper part; also of an ovary when the other floral organs are plainly below it in position, and free from it. (b) Belonging to the part of an axillary flower which is toward the main stem; posterior. (c) Pointing toward the apex of the fruit; ascending; -- said of the radicle.
Superior conjunction, Superior planets, etc. See Conjunction, Planet, etc.
Superior figure, Superior letter Print., a figure or letter printed above the line, as a reference to a note or an index of a power, etc; as, in x² + y
In·fe·ri·or a.
1. Lower in place, rank, value, excellence, etc.; less important or valuable; subordinate; underneath; beneath.
A thousand inferior and particular propositions. --I. Watts.
The body, or, as some love to call it, our inferior nature. --Burke.
Whether they are equal or inferior to my other poems, an author is the most improper judge. --Dryden.
2. Poor or mediocre; as, an inferior quality of goods.
3. Astron. (a) Nearer the sun than the earth is; as, the inferior or interior planets; an inferior conjunction of Mercury or Venus. (b) Below the horizon; as, the inferior part of a meridian.
4. Bot. (a) Situated below some other organ; -- said of a calyx when free from the ovary, and therefore below it, or of an ovary with an adherent and therefore inferior calyx. (b) On the side of a flower which is next the bract; anterior.
5. Min. Junior or subordinate in rank; as, an inferior officer.
Inferior court Law, a court subject to the jurisdiction of another court known as the superior court, or higher court.
Inferior letter, Inferior figure Print., a small letter or figure standing at the bottom of the line (opposed to superior letter or figure), as in A₂, Bₙ, 2 and n are inferior characters.
Inferior tide, the tide corresponding to the moon's transit of the meridian, when below the horizon.