Eccl. Also 4–6 superaltare, 5–7 -altarie, -y, (5 -altarye, -altori), 6 -alter. [ad. med.L. superaltāre: see SUPER- 1 d and ALTAR.]
1. A portable stone slab consecrated for use upon an unconsecrated altar, a table, etc. Also attrib.
c. 1380. Antecrist, in Todd, Three Treat. Wyclif (1851), 146. Þei suspenden men and chirches, boþe auters and superaltares.
14[?]. Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 614/35. Superaltare, a superaltarye.
c. 1475. Pict. Voc., ibid. 753/25. Hoc superaltare, a superaltori.
1493–4. Rec. St. Mary at Hill (1904), 198. For makyng of the crossys on þe superaltarys, iiij d.
1530. Palsgr., 494/2. Thynke you this superaltare is consecrate.
1551. Sir J. Williams, Acc. Monastic Treas. (Abbotsf. Club), 24. A superaltare, garnished with siluer and gilte, and parte golde, called the greate saphure of Glasconbury.
1568. Grafton, Chron., II. 383. They ordeyned a Superaltare of Siluer, and guilt, and therein the storye of Saint Edwarde was grauen most curiously.
1578. in Kempe, Losely MSS. (1836), 248. Anie masse bookes, superaltaries, or anie other suche thing belonging to the masse.
1609. Sir E. Hoby, Lett. to T. H[iggons], 91. Your Schismatical positions, your merits, satisfactions, perfections, supererogations, Masses, Vigils, superaltaries.
1849. Rock, Ch. Fathers, I. iii. 252. Another super-altar of jasper, circular in shape, and mounted in silver, upon which St. Austin was said to have celebrated, was once in the possession of our great abbey of St. Alban’s.
1908. Athenæum, 12 Sept., 298/1. No relic was necessary for a side altar or one of occasional use, provided a duly consecrated small portable super-altar stone or slab was used by the celebrant.
2. A structure erected above an altar (at the back): a. a reredos; b. a retable or gradine.
1848. B. Webb, Cont. Ecclesiol., 156. There is a stone super-altar of twelve small niches, filled by figures.
1858. Direct. Anglic. (ed. J. Purchas), 6. Along the back of the mensa extends a ledge … called the super-Altar; upon it are placed two Lights, and between these a cross of metal.
1860. [W. L. Collins], Luck of Ladysmede, I. 151. Here is the great super-altar, of the twelve Apostles, in silver tricked with gold.
1867. Church & State Rev., 16 Feb., 164. He removed a Cross, and a pair of candlesticks, together with the superaltar upon which they were placed.
1870. F. R. Wilson, Ch. Lindisf., 132. Over the communion table there is a marble super-altar on which is incised an ornamental cross.
