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supersede
verb
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Language is constantly evolving, with old spellings and meanings superseded by new ones over time. Naturally, supersede itself has its share of predecessors. Supersede ultimately comes from the Latin verb supersedēre, meaning "to sit on top of" (sedēre means "to sit"), "to be superior to," or "to refrain from," but it came to English through Scots Middle English, where it was rendered superceden and used synonymously with defer. Modern English speakers are often confused about how to spell supersede—it sometimes turns up as supercede. In fact, some of the earliest records of the word in English show it spelled with a c. Though both spellings can be etymologically justified, over time supersede won out as the "correct" version.
Synonyms
replace, displace, supplant, supersede mean to put out of a usual or proper place or into the place of another.
replace implies a filling of a place once occupied by something lost, destroyed, or no longer usable or adequate.
displace implies an ousting or dislodging.
supplant implies either a dispossessing or usurping of another's place, possessions, or privileges or an uprooting of something and its replacement with something else.
supersede implies replacing a person or thing that has become superannuated, obsolete, or otherwise inferior.
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Cite this Entry
“Supersede.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/supersede. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.
Kids Definition
supersede
verbMiddle English superceden "to defer," from early French superceder, from Latin supersedēre "to sit on top of, refrain from," from super "over, above," and sedēre "to sit"
Legal Definition
supersede
transitive verbMore from Merriam-Webster on supersede
Nglish: Translation of supersede for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of supersede for Arabic Speakers
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