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Webster 1913 Edition
Superintend
Suˊper-in-tend′
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Superintended
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Superintending
.] To have or exercise the charge and oversight of; to oversee with the power of direction; to take care of with authority; to supervise;
as, an officer
. superintends
the building of a ship or the construction of a fortThe king may appoint a council, who may
superintend
the works of this nature. Bacon.
Syn. –
Superintend
, Supervise
. These words in general use are the synonymous. As sometimes used, supervise implies the more general, and superintend, the more particular and constant, inspection or direction. Among architects there is a disposition to use the word supervise in the sense of a general oversight of the main points of construction with reference to the design, etc., and to employ the word superintend to signify a constant, careful attention to all the details of construction. But this technical distinction is not firmly established.
Webster 1828 Edition
Superintend
SUPERINTEND'
,Verb.
T.