superstratum

American  

[soo-per-strey-tuhm, -strat-uhm, soo-per-strey-tuhm, -strat-uhm] / ˈsu pərˌstreɪ təm, -ˌstræt əm, ˌsu pərˈstreɪ təm, -ˈstræt əm /

noun

superstrata, plural superstratums plural

1. an overlying stratum or layer.

2. Historical Linguistics. a set of features of a language traceable to the influence of a language formerly spoken within the same society by a dominant group.

   English has a Norman-French superstratum.

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superstratum British  

/ -ˈstreɪ-, ˌsuːpəˈstrɑːtəm /

noun

1. geology a layer or stratum overlying another layer or similar structure

2. linguistics the language of a conquering or colonizing population as it supplants that of an indigenous population, as for example French and English in the Caribbean Compare substratum

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• superstratums
  plural
• superstrata
  plural

Etymology

Origin of superstratum

1800–10; super- + stratum; cf. substratum

Example Sentences

Superstratum, sū-pėr-strā′tum, n. a stratum or layer situated above another.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements) by Various

Related Words

• coating
• facade
• skin
• surface