SUPERINTEND

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does superintend mean? 

• SUPERINTEND (verb)
  The verb SUPERINTEND has 1 sense:

1. watch and direct

  Familiarity information: SUPERINTEND used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SUPERINTEND (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they superintend    ... he / she / it superintends   
Past simple: superintended   
Past participle: superintended   
-ing form: superintending   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Watch and direct

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

manage; oversee; superintend; supervise

Context example:

Who is overseeing this project?

Hypernyms (to "superintend" is one way to...):

administer; administrate (work in an administrative capacity; supervise or be in charge of)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "superintend"):

build (order, supervise, or finance the construction of)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

superintendence (management by overseeing the performance or operation of a person or group)

superintendent (a person who directs and manages an organization)

 Context examples 

Since her father's death, her home has been London, where a lady lives with her, and superintends her education.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

There should always be one steady head to superintend so many young ones.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

When we came on deck, the men had begun already to take out the arms and powder, yo-ho-ing at their work, while the captain and Mr. Arrow stood by superintending.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

It was no longer in Emma's power to superintend his happiness or quicken his measures.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

It was not easy for us to observe anything at the time, however, for we were ourselves in the midst of the frantic crowd, swaying about and carried occasionally quite off our feet, but endeavouring to keep our places behind Jackson and Berkeley Craven, who, with sticks and whips meeting over their heads, were still calling the rounds and superintending the fight.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The first month after their marriage was spent with their friend at the Mansion-house; from whence they could superintend the progress of the Parsonage, and direct every thing as they liked on the spot;—could chuse papers, project shrubberies, and invent a sweep.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

I thought I perceived that Miss Lavinia would have uncommon satisfaction in superintending two young lovers, like Dora and me; and that Miss Clarissa would have hardly less satisfaction in seeing her superintend us, and in chiming in with her own particular department of the subject whenever that impulse was strong upon her.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Mr. Trelawney had taken up his residence at an inn far down the docks to superintend the work upon the schooner.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

She is unfortunately of a sickly constitution, which has prevented her from making that progress in many accomplishments which she could not have otherwise failed of, as I am informed by the lady who superintended her education, and who still resides with them.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

The return of winter engagements, however, was not without its effect; and in the course of their progress, her mind became so pleasantly occupied in superintending the fortunes of her eldest niece, as tolerably to quiet her nerves.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)