superintendent
pronunciation
How to pronounce superintendent in British English:
UK [ˌsuːpərɪnˈtendənt]
How to pronounce superintendent in American English:
US [ˌsuːpərɪnˈtendənt]
-
- Noun:
- a person who directs and manages an organization
- a caretaker for an apartment house; represents the owner as janitor and rent collector
Word Origin
- superintendent (n.)
- 1550s, originally an ecclesiastical word meaning "bishop" or "minister who supervises churches within a district" (ultimately a loan-translation of Greek episkopos "overseer"), from Medieval Latin superintendentem (nominative superintendens), present participle of Late Latin superintendere "oversee," from Latin super "above" (see super-) + intendere "turn one's attention to, direct" (see intend). Famously used by 16c. radical Protestants in place of bishop, which to them was tainted by Papacy. [Martinists] studie to pull downe Bishopps, and set vp Superintendents, which is nothing else, but to raze out good Greeke, & enterline bad Latine. [Lyly, "Pappe with an Hatchet," 1589] The general sense of "a person who has charge of some business" is first recorded 1580s. Meaning "janitor, custodian" is from c. 1935. Shortened form super first attested 1857, especially at first of overseers of sheep ranches in Australia. As an adjective meaning "superintending," from 1590s.
Synonym
Example
- 1. The u. k. police oversight body also arrested a london police superintendent on thursday in the same investigation .
- 2. The turning point in hong kong 's anticorruption efforts came in 1973 with the bribery investigation of the chief police superintendent , peter godber .
- 3. Chief superintendent erwin margarejo , spokesman of the manila police district , said the use of force would be a " last resort " .
- 4. Chief superintendent dave folkard , who runs essex police 's complaints department , said al-ani had posed a danger to the public , and officers moved " swiftly and positively " to prevent harm to anyone .
- 5. Even the lead researcher , philip zimbardo , admits he became submerged in his role as the ' prison superintendent ' .