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superintendent - 4 dictionary results

su⋅per⋅in⋅tend⋅ent

[soo-per-in-ten-duhnt, soo-prin-]
–noun
1. a person who oversees or directs some work, enterprise, establishment, organization, district, etc.; supervisor.
2. a person who is in charge of maintenance and repairs of an apartment house; custodian.
3. a high-ranking police officer, esp. a chief of police or an officer ranking next above an inspector.
–adjective
4. superintending.

Origin:
1545–55; < ML superintendent- (s. of superintendēns), prp. of superintendere to superintend; see -ent
su·per·in·ten·dent   (sōō'pər-ĭn-těn'dənt, sōō'prĭn-)   
n.  
  1. Abbr. Supt. A person who has the authority to supervise or direct.
  2. A janitor or custodian in a building, especially in an apartment house.
su'per·in·ten'dent adj.

superintendent 
1554, originally an ecclesiastical word meaning "bishop" or "minister who supervises churches within a district" (a loan-translation of Gk. episkopos "overseer"), from M.L. superintendentem (nom. superintendens), from prp. of L.L. superintendere "oversee," from L. super "above" (see super-) + intendere "turn one's attention, direct" (see intend). Famously used by 16c. radical Protestants in place of bishop, which was to them 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 1588. Meaning "janitor, custodian" is from c.1935. Shortened form super first attested 1857, especially at first of overseers of sheep ranches in Australia.
Language Translation for : superintendent
Spanish: superintendente, director, inspector,
German: der Vorsteher,
Japanese: 監督

Main Entry: su·per·in·ten·dent
Function: noun
: one who has the oversight and charge of a place, institution, department, organization, or operation; specifically : the executive head of a police department
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