superintendentn.adj.
/ˌsuːp(ə)rᵻnˈtɛnd(ə)nt/, /ˌs(j)uːp(ə)rᵻnˈtɛnd(ə)nt/, U.S. /ˌsup(ə)rᵻnˈtɛndənt/ A. n. A person who superintends.
1. Christian Church. A spiritual overseer.† a. Used instead of bishop by some radical English Protestant reformers of the 16th century, and later also by Roman Catholics with (depreciative) reference to bishops of the Church of England. Obsolete.
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society > faith > church government > member of the clergy > clerical superior > bishop > kinds of bishop > [noun] > Anglican
superintendent?1544
superintendentship1565
magpiea1704
?1544 J. Bale Epist. Exhortatorye f. 27 Episcopus is as moche to saye as a superintendent or an ouersear, whose offyce was in the prymatyue Churche purelye to instructe the multitude in the wayes of God.
1554 T. Martin Traictise Marriage of Priestes sig. Giv He [sc. Clement of Rome] speketh of Bishops and Archbishops, whom thei wold haue termed superintendentes and ministers.
1567 J. Jewel Def. Apol. Churche Eng. vi. ii. 597 Yee mighte easily haue knowen, that a Superintendente, is an Anciente name, and signifieth none other, but a Bishop.
1613 T. Fitzherbert Adioynder to Suppl. R. Persons Discuss. v. 206 (heading) M. Barlow and his fellow-Superintendents proued to be no Bishops.
1649 Bp. J. Hall Resol. & Decisions iii. v. 273 Writing to Titus the great Super-intendent of Crete.
1721 J. Strype Eccl. Memorials II. ii. xxiii. 444 The very Name of Bishop grew odious among the People, and the Word Superintendent began to be affected.
1757 N. Tindal tr. P. Rapin de Thoyras Hist. Eng. Eccl. & Civil (ed. 4) III. xxvii. 287/2 All things might be concluded by the bishop or superintendent (call him which you will).
1861 T. J. Potter Rector's Daughter ix. 106 The Rector has not published his ‘Reasons’ for becoming a Catholic; a mode of proceeding..by which we have known several..bishops (some people only call them ‘superintendents’) considerably annoyed.
b. In certain Protestant churches, originally of continental Europe: a chief or presiding minister; (spec. in the Lutheran Church) a minister having charge of the churches and pastors of a particular district.Coverdale uses superattendent (see quot. ?1548 at superattendant n.).
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society > faith > church government > member of the clergy > clerical superior > various Christian superiors > [noun] > Lutheran
superattendant?1548
superintendent1550
1550 W. Lynne tr. J. Funke Actes & Hist. Worlde 1532–50 in tr. J. Carion Thre Bks. Cronicles f. ccxxxii On oure syde were chosen Phillipe Melanthon, Marten, Bucer, Iohan Baker superintendent of Nidda.
1560 J. Daus tr. J. Sleidane Commentaries f. clx The Senate appointed them a churche [at Strasburg], wherof Iohn Caluine was fyrste for certeine yeres the superintendent [L. huic primis aliquot annis praefuit Ioannes Caluinus].
1602 R. Parsons Warn-word f. 44v A great Superintendent in Saxony.
1681 Bp. G. Burnet Hist. Reformation: 2nd Pt. App. 396 The Zuinglians had no Superintendents, for ought I can find; nor was Hooper ever called Superintendent, but Bishop.
1694 R. Molesworth Acct. Denmark in 1692 xvi. 253 There are six Superintendants in Denmark, who take it very kindly to be called Bishops, and My Lord.
1706 tr. L. E. Du Pin New Eccl. Hist. 16th Cent. II. v. 128 The Ministers and Super-Intendants of Hereticks.
1747 M. Towgood Dissenting Gentleman's Second Lett. 52 There are Ministers which are called Superintendents, or Bishops, yet these are only primi inter Pares.
1879 Encycl. Brit. X. 469/2 A synodal constitution for the Evangelical State Church was introduced in Prussia in 1875... The parishes..are grouped into dioceses.., presided over by superintendents, who are subordinate to the superintendent-general of the province.
1916 Minutes Ann. Meeting (Mass. Congregational Conf.) 34 A Baptist superintendent..asking the Secretary to make commendations of ministers..under the supervision of the superintendent.
2000 Amer. Nat. Biogr. Online (Electronic text) at Hartwick, John Christopher He was not above claiming that he possessed the authority of a Lutheran superintendent, an office most Lutherans were pleased they had left behind in Europe.
c. In the reformed Church of Scotland: an official appointed under the First Book of Discipline (1560) to oversee and administer a district roughly corresponding to the old diocese, and to ordain ministers. Now historical.
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society > faith > church government > member of the clergy > clerical superior > various Christian superiors > [noun] > Presbyterian > Church of Scotland
superattendant?1548
superintendent1561
1561 J. Knox First Bk. Discipl. Church Scotl. in Wks. (1848) II. 198 To him that travelleth from place to place, quhom we call Superintendentis, quho remane as it war a moneth or less in one place, for the establishing of the kirk.
1561 in A. Macdonald & J. Dennistoun Misc. Maitland Club (1843) III. ii. 267 Superintendent of Fyffe Fothryk & Strathern.
1566 in J. Chamberlayne St. Great Brit. (1710) 362 The Superintendants, Ministers and Commissioners within the Realm of Scotland, to their Brethren the Bishops and Pastors of England.
a1639 J. Spottiswood Hist. Church Scotl. (1655) v. 258 The Superintendents held their office during Life, and their power was Episcopal.
a1646 T. Hope Minor Practicks (1726) §56. 18 The several Kirks were planted by the Superintendants appointed in every Province, by the General Assembly.
a1734 R. Wodrow Coll. Lives Reformers (1834) I. 109 Mr. Willock was appointed..Superintendant of the West.
a1768 J. Erskine Inst. Law Scotl. (1773) I. i. v. §5 Parochial presbyters, and over them certain church-officers, styled superintendents.
1885 Encycl. Brit. XIX. 679/1 Under Knox's agency Edinburgh, St. Andrews, Aberdeen, Jedburgh, Perth, Dunfermline, and Leith had fixed ministers appointed, whilst wider districts were placed under superintendents or travelling ministers.
1998 W. Ferguson Identity Sc. Nation vi. 109 Erskine represented the conservative tradition in the reformed church, and equated superintendent with bishop. Knox..did not greatly care for this equation.
d. John Wesley's term for: any of a number of people ordained by him to act as senior travelling preachers in the United States; (later, among Wesleyan Methodists) the presiding minister of an American district. U.S. in later use.
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society > faith > church government > member of the clergy > clerical superior > bishop > kinds of bishop > [noun] > Wesleyan
superintendent1784
1784 J. Wesley in R. Southey Life of Wesley (1820) II. 440 I have this day set apart, as a Superintendent, by the imposition of my hands and prayer,..Thomas Coke,..a Presbyter of the Church of England.
1785 T. Coke Substance Serm. Godhead Christ Ded. To the Rev. Francis Asbury, Superintendent, the Elders, Deacons, and Helpers, of the Methodist Episcopal Church in America.
1883 Encycl. Brit. XVI. 189/1 The admission of members into the society [of Wesleyans] had, up to 1797, been entirely in the hands of the itinerant preachers,—that is, the ‘assistant’, henceforth to be styled the ‘superintendent’, and his ‘helpers’.
1885 Minutes of Wesleyan Conf. 24 He was a painstaking Superintendent.
1995 B. M. Hayashi For Sake of Japanese Brethren iv. 56 The white superintendents' vigorous defense of the Japanese American Methodists.
2. In general sense.
a. A person who superintends someone or something; an official in charge of an activity, group, or organization; an overseer, supervisor, manager, or director of a department, operation, business, institution, etc. Sometimes with of (also †over).Earliest in figurative context: cf. sense A. 2b.
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the world > animals > domestic animal > [noun] > work animals
superintendent1575
user1828
worker1844
society > occupation and work > worker > workers according to status > [noun] > overseer or foreman
stewarda1400
surveyorc1440
supervisorc1454
overlookera1513
workmaster1525
supervisora1529
foreman1574
superintendent1575
overman1606
headman1725
overseer1766
gang leader1775
hagmaster1797
maistry1798
gangsman1803
kangany1817
capataz1826
gangman1830
ganger1836
gaffer1841
gang boss1863
ramrod1881
charge-man1885
mandor1885
captain1886
overganger1887
ephor1890
pusher1901
gangster1913
line manager1960
1575 G. Turberville tr. F. S. Vicentino Treat. Cure Spanels in Bk. Faulconrie 371 Spanels..are superintendantes, and necessarie seruantes, both for the Hawke and the Falconer.
1598 R. Barret Theorike & Pract. Mod. Warres iv. 92 Superintendent of all the Sergeants.
1653 H. Cogan tr. F. M. Pinto Voy. & Adventures xxvii. 103 One of those Super-intendents of Justice, that..are sent throughout the Provinces for to make report unto the King of all that passeth there.
1653 H. Cogan tr. F. M. Pinto Voy. & Adventures lviii. 226 The Super-intendent over all the other Civil and Criminal Ministers.
1741 E. Curll in W. Oldys et al. Betterton's Hist. Eng. Stage Ep. Ded. sig. A4v To his Grace the Duke of Grafton,..Super-Intendant of the Theatres.
1758 London Mag. Apr. 201/2 Under the direction of Mr Ottolenghé, superintendent of the Silk Culture in Georgia.
1770 J. Langhorne & W. Langhorne tr. Plutarch Lives V. 98 As his family, and particularly his daughters, wanted a proper superintendant.
1843 N. Amer. Rev. 57 274 The highest Cadet Captain is superintendent of the mess hall.
1865 G. W. Gesner A. Gesner's Pract. Treat. Coal (ed. 2) viii. 167 One superintendent, two engineers,..and four helpers.
1908 Times 10 Oct. 6/5 Application to the superintendent of the park.
1916 Newark (Ohio) Advocate 5 July 6/3 W. M. Davis, superintendent of the Cincinnati railroad omnibus company.
2000 InfoWorld 31 Jan. 30 [The plant is] selling quality of service to its business customers, according to William Ray, superintendent at Glasgow Electric Plant.
b. In extended use.
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society > authority > control > person in control > [noun] > superintendent
architector1461
earl1483
overlookera1513
superior1554
superintender1573
superintendent1603
surintendent1645
epistates1651
intendant1652
referee1705
supercargo1713
surveillant1819
super1849
supe1908
1603 P. Holland tr. Plutarch Morals 1313 He is the superintendant and reformer of mens language as touching the gods.
1730 E. Oakley Mag. Archit., Perspective, & Sculpt. ii. 52 Moral Philosophy, which tempereth Fancies, is the Superintendent of Art.
1788 J. Priestley Lect. Hist. i. iii. 26 That the world has a governor, or superintendent, is just as evident as that it had a maker.
a1851 S. Beazley You know What (1885) i. i. 3 Your household goddess with a poker in her hand—the celestial superintendent of your roast and boiled.
1911 J. A. Carter Christianity vs. Railroading vi. 51 Friend, have you ever sent this message or prayer to the Superintendent of Heaven?
2007 H. H. Hickam Red Helmet xxxviii. 305 Well, Cable, you can just be the superintendent of my heart.
3. In specific senses.† d. U.S. A train conductor. Obsolete. rare.
a. The chief administrative official of a district; a governor, esp. of a colonial region under British rule. Now chiefly historical.
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society > authority > rule or government > ruler or governor > governor of province, dependency, or colony > [noun]
grievec950
warden1297
presidenta1382
procuratora1382
governora1393
seneschalc1400
lieutenant1423
promissary?c1500
governator1522
provincial1590
ethnarch1602
state governor1608
proconsul1650
stadholder1704
superintendent1758
meridarch1866
prez.1919
1758 J. Dalrymple Ess. Hist. Feudal Prop. (ed. 2) 10 The superintendants of Folkland, called Coples.
1775 J. Adair Hist. Amer. Indians 252 Our first Indian super-intendant.
1847 W. C. L. Martin Ox 113/2 A tract of coast..divided into islands respectively under the care of superintendents.
1863 Statutes N.Z. 174 The word ‘Superintendent’ shall mean the Superintendent for the time being of the Province of Auckland.
1902 G. S. Whitmore Last Maori War Introd. p. xxxii Retiring to Hawke's Bay,..Mr. McLean became..superintendent of that province.
1968 J. A. Hostetler Amish Society (ed. 2) ix. 201 The superintendent of the Oelwein district..was worried about getting the required votes in both districts.
1988 E. Mphahlele Renewal Time 110 It was a letter from the location's white superintendent telling Karel that he would have to leave house No. 35 Mathole Street.
2000 Oxf. Dict. World Hist. (Electronic text) at La Trobe, Charles Joseph He became superintendent of the newly settled Port Phillip District of New South Wales.
b. Any of various police officials; in later use spec. (a) British a police officer ranking above chief inspector; (b) U.S. the head of any of several police departments. Also as a title or form of address.
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society > law > law enforcement > police force or the police > [noun] > policeman > policeman of specific rank
superintendent1789
police inspector1824
police sergeant1824
sergeant1839
inspector1840
station sergeant1846
detective-sergeant1850
detective-inspector1898
desk sergeant1908
sarge1926
skipper1929
supe1977
1789 W. Jones tr. Kalidása Sacontalá vi. 122 Enter a Superintendent of Police with two Officers.
1829 J. Wade Treat. Police & Crimes of Metropolis v. 89 Then follow the chief constable, constables, superintendents, patrols, and watchmen composing the district police.
1832 Observer 24 June 4/4 Mr. Thomas, the Superintendent of Police, F Division, came before..the presiding Magistrate.
1836 Act 6 & 7 William IV c. 13 §2 Inspectors, and Superintendents, Clerks, Chief and other Constables, Sub-Constables, and Officers [of the Royal Irish Constabulary].
1881 N. Amer. Rev. Aug. 175 The superintendent, and the four police commissioners, all know that every rum-bar on Broadway and Bowery is open on Sunday.
1907 G. B. Shaw Major Barbara Pref. in John Bull's Other Island 171 Those who pester our police superintendents with confessions of murder might very wisely be taken at their word and executed.
1936 G. Heyer Behold, here's Poison iv. 71 This is Superintendent Hannasyde, of Scotland Yard.
1977 ‘E. Crispin’ Glimpses of Moon viii. 150 Not at all, Superintendent.
2010 Wall St. Jrnl. 17 Apr. a3/1 Chicago Police Superintendent Jody Weis said the spasm of violence ‘is unacceptable in an American city.’
c. North American. Education. The chief administrator of a school division.
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1820 Plough Boy I. 325/1 The superintendent of common schools respectfully reports—That the returns of common schools [etc.].
1831 Amer. Ann. Educ. Mar. 113 The excellence of the organization of the common school system in the State of New York, and..the advantage of having a Superintendent.
1899 Ann. Rep. Public Schools Brit. Columbia 8 No city in the Province is now more alive to the advantages of a good High School than is Victoria, and this change of sentiment is largely due to the persistent efforts of the City Superintendent.
1902 Encycl. Brit. XXVII. 678/2 The city board of education has as its executive officer a superintendent of schools, who has become a most important factor in American educational administration.
1976 Billings (Montana) Gaz. 20 June 11- e/6 President Ford heard pro and con views on busing as a remedy for school desegregation from school superintendents and principals.
2010 New Yorker 1 Feb. 27/3 Turning around big urbans is not something you do under the tenure of one superintendent.
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society > travel > rail travel > railway worker > [noun] > train-staff > conductor
conductor1832
superintendent1835
1835 S. Breck Note 22 July in Recoll. (1877) 275 ‘Make room for the ladies!’ bawled out the superintendent.
e. North American. A person responsible for the supervision and maintenance of services in a building, esp. an apartment block; a building manager, caretaker, janitor.
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the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > care, protection, or charge > [noun] > one who looks after > guardian or custodian > caretaker of a building
office keeper1707
janitor1708
caretaker1858
schoolkeeper1874
superintendent1878
janny1912
1878 N.-Y. Times 29 Mar. 7/2 (advt.) Two choice apartments... Apply to J. G. Bame, Superintendent, on premises.
1915 N.Y. Tribune 17 July 7/1 The tenants in the apartment house all pitied me a lot. An inefficient janitor Entitled ‘superintendent’.
1960 A. Huxley Let. 17 July (1969) 893 I have an apartment in Cambridge... If for any reason you want to use it, I am sure it will be easy to arrange with the superintendent of the building.
1970 Globe & Mail (Toronto) 26 Sept. 49/3 (advt.) Top grade superintendent for high-rise apartment building. Applicant must possess thorough knowledge of hot water heating systems.
2011 Hamilton (Ont.) Spectator (Nexis) 20 Sept. a4 Gary Small was the superintendent of the nearby Jerome Crescent apartment where Werendowicz lived.
B. adj.
Superintending, overseeing; holding the position of a superintendent.In later use chiefly in the names of officials; now often taken as an attributive use of the noun.
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society > authority > control > [adjective] > superintending
superintendent1566
supervising1594
architectonical1595
supervisiting1615
superintending1625
architectonic1678
supervisory1815
superintendential1838
supervisal1838
visitatorial1880
1566 J. Craig et al. Let. 28 Dec. in Brieff Disc. Troubles Franckford (1574) p. ccxii The Superintendent Ministers, and commissionars off charges within the Realme off Skotland.
1597 T. Beard Theatre Gods Iudgements i. vi. 12 Their high and superintendent estate, is no priuiledge to exempt them from the..obedience which they owe vnto God.
1642 J. March Argument Militia 38 They exercise a superintendent jurisdiction over all other Courts.
1651 J. Howell S.P.Q.V. 48 The Decemvirs, who..were created to have the sole and superintendent power of all things.
1738 E. Chambers Cycl. at Bishop The superintendant bishop of Copenhagen.
a1751 P. Doddridge Course of Lect. (1763) cxiv. 323 A book may be written by such a superintendent inspiration.
1828 J. Ballantyne Exam. Human Mind iii. §1. 169 An influence that is purely superintendent.
1889 W. Wilson State §471 Districts were grouped under a superintendent provincial organization.
1913 Times 7 Aug. 3/2 The superintendent visiting officer of the London wards.
1999 Church Times 12 Feb. 12/2 The Westminster office and its sub-offices conduct 1900 marriages a year, said the Superintendent Registrar.
2010 Limerick Leader (Nexis) 15 Nov. Eddie Murphy, superintendent welfare officer with the HSE says the criticisms are unfair.
Compounds
superintendent general n. now rare an official having control over a number of superintendents; (also) a minister having charge of a number of parish superintendents.
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society > authority > control > person in control > [noun] > superintendent > chief
superintendent general1613
Intendant-General1701
1613 W. Shute tr. J. J. Orlers & H. van Haestens Triumphs of Nassau 62 The whole fleet consisted of 18937 footmen, 8650 mariners, 224 voluntaries.., seuenteene Superintendents Generall [Fr. Superintendants generaulx] of the Armie [etc.]
1727 R. Roach Great Crisis v. 107 John Andt, Superintendent General of Lunenburg, the great Reviver of Primitive Christianity.
1847 tr. C. C. J. Bunsen Constit. Church of Future vi. 143 For the two Churches of the Rhenish provinces and Westphalia, there is a superintendent-general appointed, to whom the title of bishop is also given.
1927 Times 6 July 21/2 Dr. W. J. Viljoen (Superintendent-General of Education, Cape Province).
1987 Guardian (Nexis) 5 Nov. Questions are still ‘awaiting approval’ by the department's superintendent-general, Mr J. D. Terreblanche.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2012; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.adj.?1544