Also 5–6 -habundaunce, 6 -haboundaunce, 6–7 -aboundance. [ad. late L. superabundantia, f. pres. pple. of superabundāre to SUPERABOUND: see -ANCE. Cf. obs. F. superabondance (OF., F. sur-).]
1. The quality of being superabundant; the fact or condition of superabounding; excessive abundance or plentifulness; redundance.
1432–50. trans. Higden (Rolls), IV. 37. Puttenge signes þer callede obeli, to betokyn superhabundaunce.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 263 b. Superhaboundaunce or lacke of some humour, whiche disordereth the body.
1593. Nashe, Christ’s T., Wks. 1904, II. 124. It is the superaboundance of witte that makes Atheists.
1695. Woodward, Nat. Hist. Earth, v. (1723), 262. The Luxury and Superabundance of the Productions of the Earth.
1783. Justamond, trans. Raynal’s Hist. Indies, II. 3. The superabundance of population in islands.
1831. Brewster, Nat. Magic, i. (1833), 7. The task of selection is rendered extremely difficult, by the superabundance of materials.
1860. Pusey, Min. Proph., 225. Such shall be the abundance and superabundance of blessing, that it shall be as though the hills dissolved themselves in the rich streams which they poured down.
2. That which superabounds; a superabundant quantity or amount; a surplus (of something).
c. 1410. Hoccleve, Min. Poems, in De Reg. Princ. (1897), p. lx. I pray you … or youre merites superhabundaunce, As grauntith me of almesse some pietaunce.
1576. Newton, Lemnie’s Complex. (1633), 77. That the stomacke be not overcloyed and charged with superabundance or excesse.
1603. Holland, Plutarch’s Mor., 59. For a man to adorne another is an excellent ornament proceeding from a superabundance (as it were) of glorie and honor which is in himselfe.
1785. J. Phillips, Treat. Inland Navig., p. v. Navigation … conveys the superabundance of the productions and manufactures of one country … to another.
1827. Hare, Guesses, Ser. I. (1859), 1. A mother should desire to give her children a superabundance of enthusiasm.
1879. Cassell’s Techn. Educ., I. 219/2. To relieve it of its super-abundance of water.
