Mid 17th century; earliest use found in Clement Barksdale (1609–1687), Church of England clergyman and author. From classical Latin superiectiōn-, superiectiō (in rhetoric) action of transcending (a limit), hyperbole, in post-classical Latin also action of throwing or putting on (late 2nd or early 3rd cent. in Tertullian) from superiect-, past participial stem of superiacere to throw or scatter on top or over the surface, to surpass, transcend + -iō.