Also 6–7 -encie, 7 -ancie, 7–8 -ancy. [ad. med.L. superintendentia, f. superintendent-, -ens SUPERINTENDENT: see -ENCY.]
1. The office or position of a superintendent; the function, authority or right of superintending; the exercise of this function, superintendence. Const. of, † above, over (that which is controlled). a. in reference to a definite business, institution, etc.
1598. Barret, Theor. Warres, II. i. 19. The Superintendencie thereof [sc. the munitions] resteth in him [sc. the Sergeant Major].
1602. J. Clapham, Hist. Gt. Brit., II. II. v. (1606), 221. The Britans (imagining that he … would…, being settled in a superintendency over them,… despise them).
a. 1617. Hieron, Wks. (1620), II. 441. The Pope and his faction challenge a superintendency aboue Kings, all must be subiect vnto him, and he to no body.
1649. Milton, Eikon., xiii. 133. Arch-Presbytery … claiming to it self a Lordly power and Superintendency both over Flocks and Pastors.
1697. Collier, Ess, Mor. Subj., I. v. 193. We find from S. Paul, that one reason of his giving Titus the super-intendency of Crete was, to ordain Elders in every City.
1727. A. Hamilton, New Acc. E. Ind., xlvii. II. 176. She was then honoured with the Superintendency of his Majesty’s Confectionary.
1768. Blackstone, Comm., III. vi. 81. The courts at Westminster-hall have a concurrent jurisdiction with these, or else a super-intendency over them.
1845. Ld. Campbell, Chancellors, xxiv. (1857), VI. 99. The Court of Chancery, the guardian of all infants, with the superintendency and cognizance of all trusts.
1845. Stephen, Comm. Laws Eng. (1874), I. 67. The courts of common law have the superintendency over these courts.
1882. Rep. to Ho. Repr. Prec. Met. U.S., 153. The Santiago mill … had a large … business under the superintendency of Donald McKay.
b. in general sense: often as an attribute of the Divine Being.
1641. Earl Monm., trans. Biondi’s Civil Wars, III. 100. By which actions having … freed himselfe from the superintendencie of others.
1679. J. Goodman, Penit. Pard., III. i. (1713), 297. The special superintendency, guidance and influence of his Holy Spirit.
1682. Howe, Self-dedication, Ep. Ded. (1702), A3. It looks like an Artifice and Contrivance of Providence … that it might indear to you its Accurate superintendency over your Life.
1709. Steele, Tatler, No. 135, ¶ 3. The Superintendency of Providence.
1882. Farrar, Early Chr., 219. The grace of superintendency was at work.
2. A district (spec. in the Lutheran Church, a collection of parishes) under the charge of a superintendent; in China, one of the administrative divisions of the country.
1762. trans. Busching’s Syst. Geog., VI. 340. The ten parishes in it constitute a particular superintendency.
1847. trans. Bunsen’s Ch. Future, vi. 151. The superintendencies … coincide most happily with those minor divisions of the country, established by the Prussian code.
1896. Westm. Gaz., 13 Nov., 8/3. Ten millions will be furnished by the Tsung-li-Yamen from the last loan, and the Northern and Southern superintendencies will furnish three millions and seven millions respectively.
