adv. [f. prec. + -LY2.] In a surpassing degree; exceedingly, supereminently.
1658. Rowland, trans. Moufet’s Theat. Ins., 908. Johan. Bauhinus a very learned Physician, and surpassingly well seen in the knowledge of simples.
1698. W. Chilcot, Evil Thoughts, vii. (1851), 84. His radiant likeness is stamped upon every glorified soul, which makes it surpassingly fair and beautiful.
1834. L. Ritchie, Wand. by Seine, 103. Surpassingly fair and good.
1847. Helps, Friends in C., I. vi. 88. How surpassingly interesting is real life, when we get an insight into it.
1891. Meredith, One of our Conq., III. xii. 245. His Idea had been surpassingly luminous.
So Surpassingness. rare.
1879. Meredith, Egoist, xxii. The effect of the luckless comparison was to produce an image of surpassingness in the features of Clara that gave him the final, or mace-blow.
