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Glite Dictionary
to superintend

to superintend

1 7.0
To manage and direct the work of other people
  • verb
  • /ˌsuːpərɪnˈtɛnd/
  • Formal
translation icon : supervisar
  • She will superintend the team's activities during the project to ensure everything runs smoothly.
  • superintend the work

Examples

  • The manager was hired to superintend the construction of the new building.

  • He was asked to superintend the development of the training program for new employees.

  • No reason why a man of your ability shouldn't be able to superintend 2 farms.

    Far from the Madding Crowd (2015)

  • His idea of superintending is to ignore every one of the safety rules that you laid down.

    The Invisible Man Returns (1940)

  • As an alternative, the Committee had fashioned a scheme for superintending the conduct of the clergy.

    Academic text (1996)

  • Sam stayed late every night to break down the grill and scour the kitchen, and in addition, he superintended the dining room clean-up.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • State road law also required counties to appoint precinct "surveyors" whose task was to superintend roads; that is, to clear them and to maintain them in good repair.

    Academic text (2004)

  • He also superintended a southwest Georgia and Florida-to-Texas migration that eventually brought a sizable group of family to the Lone Star State.

    Academic text (2011)

  • Additionally, Commissaries Johnston and Bull helped to strengthen the establishment, superintending church affairs with rigor and determination.

    Academic text (2006)

  • Early in the first Reagan term, Counsellor to the President Edwin Meese III superintended the creation of six such councils with responsibility for various policy areas other than national security.

    Academic text (1990)

Synonyms

to manage
vsto superintend
643 2.7

To be in charge of a group or a business

focuses more on overall charge and directing teams and processes
to oversee
vsto superintend
221 3.9

To watch and direct other people's work

is broader, formally in charge of directing processes and groups
to supervise
vsto superintend
189 3.5

Watch and guide people doing tasks to keep the work correct and safe

is about being in charge and directing people and processes
to administer
vsto superintend
  • Formal
81 4.7

Manage the running of something like a business or program

focuses more on supervising people and managing processes overall
to administrate
vsto superintend
  • Formal
1 5.6

Manage and be in charge of an organization, program or activity in an official way

is a broader leadership role beyond formal task coordination
to admin
vsto superintend
  • Jargon
1 4.1

To manage a website, online group, or server

is a more general leadership role over people and processes
to super
vsto superintend
  • US
1 7.7

To manage an apartment building or property and arrange repairs

covers managing any group or process not only property tasks

Antonyms

to neglect
256 3.8

Fail to care for someone or something you should look after

How Responsible

to superintend
  • Formal
1 7.0
to direct
617 3.7
to manage
643 2.7
to supervise
189 3.5
to oversee
221 3.9
to monitor
627 3.5

Surface Forms

superintend infinitive
superintended past
superintended past participle
superintending present participle
superintends third person singular

Morphology

superintend = intend (semi-transparent) = super + intend

The word is formally 'super-' + 'intend', but the modern sense 'oversee/manage' is not a straightforward composition of 'super' + the common meaning of 'intend' (to plan), so learners may only partially infer it.

Etymology

Superintend comes from Latin parts super- meaning 'above' and intend meaning 'to aim or direct'. So, to superintend is to be 'above' a task and direct the work of others.