super-

CIDE DICTIONARY

super-,  [L. super over, above; akin to Gr. , L. sub under, and E. over. See Over, and cf. Hyper-, Sub-, Supra-, Sur-.].

•  A prefix signifying above, over, beyond, and hence often denoting in a superior position, in excess, over and above, in addition, exceedingly; as in superimpose, supersede, supernatural, superabundance.  [1913 Webster]
•  A prefix formerly much used to denote that the ingredient to the name of which it was prefixed was present in a large, or unusually large, proportion as compared with the other ingredients; as in calcium superphosphate. It has been superseded by per-, bi-, di-, acid, etc. (as peroxide, bicarbonate, disulphide, and acid sulphate), which retain the old meanings of super-, but with sharper definition. Cf. Acid, a., Bi-, Di-, and Per-.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

super-, comb. form forming nouns, adjectives, and verbs, meaning:
1 above, beyond, or over in place or time or conceptually (superstructure; supernormal; superimpose).
2 to a great or extreme degree (superabundant; superhuman).
3 extra good or large of its kind (supertanker).
4 of a higher kind, esp. in names of classificatory divisions (superclass).

Etymology

from or after L super- f. super above, beyond