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Glite Dictionary
to supervene

to supervene

1 9.9
To happen later as something new and unexpected
  • verb
  • /ˌsuːpərˈviːn/
  • Formal
: sobrevenir
  • The unexpected rainstorm supervened on our picnic plans, forcing us to seek shelter.

So the duties of justice are going to trump the duties of courage, or they're at least they're going to supervene upon them and guide them.

Examples

  • The person may have had some knowledge of a more recent traumatic event, and when this new experience supervenes, he or she is completely taken by surprise.

    Academic text (1990)

  • So the duties of justice are going to trump the duties of courage, or they're at least they're going to supervene upon them and guide them.

    Gregory B. Sadler - That Philosophy Guy

  • To say that consciousness supervenes on the brain is to say that any change in consciousness must be accompanied by a change in the brain, but it does not imply that all changes in the brain yield a change in consciousness.

    Blog text (34)

  • The dilemma of fiscal and monetary policy coherence needs to be resolved before any contemplated surge in activity could supervene.

    Blog text (25)

  • As the process of experiencing tries to happen and the inevitable leakage of emotion occurs, panic attacks, agitation, and restlessness supervene.

    Academic text (1990)

  • When the last-minute change in management supervenes, employees often feel unsettled about their future.

  • New regulations will supervene on the previous policies, introducing significant changes to the process.

Synonyms

to upspring
vsto supervene
  • Archaic
1 9.9

To begin suddenly in the mind as an idea or feeling

occurs as an additional or unexpected later development rather than immediate origin

Antonyms

to precede
104 4.1

Happen before something else in time or order

Phrasal Verbs

to supervene upon
  • Formal
1 9.9

To take the place of something or someone

How Unexpected

to supervene
  • Formal
1 9.9
to occur
∞ 2.0
to ensue
64 5.8
to follow
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

supervene infinitive
supervened past
supervened past participle
supervening present participle
supervenes third person singular

Morphology

supervene = super + vene

Although the prefix 'super' is recognizable, the root 'vene' is not a standalone English base, so learners cannot reliably infer the meaning from the visible parts.

Etymology

The word supervene comes from Latin parts super- ('over' or 'on top of') and venire ('to come'). Like the word event (something that 'comes'), supervene means to 'come on top of' something, so it is used for something that happens later as an extra or unexpected development.