superintendent
- a person who oversees or directs some work, enterprise, establishment, organization, district, etc.; supervisor.
- a person who is in charge of maintenance and repairs of an apartment house; custodian.
- a high-ranking police officer, especially a chief of police or an officer ranking next above an inspector.
Origin of superintendent
Related Words
administratorsupervisorcustodianchiefcuratordirectormanagerinspectorcontrollerheadconductorcaretakergovernorbossoverseersuperforepersonsitterzookeeperExamples from the Web for superintendent
Contemporary Examples
I happened to run into the superintendent the day we got the news, and blurted out a question in an unguarded moment.
Superintendent Smith, in fact, had fielded a steady stream of complaints about him that never resulted in any direct action.
His sensitivity to this problem came out in his first sharp disagreement with his boss, VMI superintendent Francis H. Smith.
But Comey had little to say about what Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy recognizes as the core problem.
Superintendent of Schools Donald Trombley is quoted in The Ithaca Journal: “It is unbelievable hysteria.”
The Stacks: The Searing Story of How Murder Stalked a Tiny New York TownE. Jean Carroll
April 19, 2014
Historical Examples
That evening, the lawyer called at the house of the superintendent.
Brave and BoldHoratio Alger
"I suppose you want to be taken back," said the superintendent, abruptly.
Brave and BoldHoratio Alger
I wish my father had intrusted his money to you instead of to the superintendent.
Brave and BoldHoratio Alger
The superintendent would have refused an interview but for one consideration.
Brave and BoldHoratio Alger
"I think I will," said the superintendent, helping himself to a fresh slice of toast.
Brave and BoldHoratio Alger
superintendent
- a person who directs and manages an organization, office, etc
- (in Britain) a senior police officer higher in rank than an inspector but lower than a chief superintendent
- (in the US) the head of a police department
- mainly US and Canadian a caretaker, esp of a block of apartments
- of or relating to supervision; superintending
Word Origin
Word Origin and History for superintendent
n.
1550s, originally an ecclesiastical word meaning "bishop" or "minister who supervises churches within a district" (a loan-translation of Greek episkopos "overseer"), from Medieval Latin superintendentem (nominative superintendens), from present participle of Late Latin superintendere "oversee," from Latin 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 1580s. Meaning "janitor, custodian" is from c.1935. Shortened form super first attested 1857, especially at first of overseers of sheep ranches in Australia.