supersum

Latin

Etymology

super- +‎ sum

Pronunciation

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key): /suˈper.sum/, [s̠ʊˈpɛrs̠ʊ̃ˑ]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /suˈper.sum/, [suˈpɛrsum]

Verb

supersum (present infinitive superesse, perfect active superfuī, future participle superfutūrus); irregular conjugation, irregular, no passive, no supine stem (except in the future active participle)

1. to remain, to still remain, to be left, left over
   • 29 BCE – 19 BCE, Virgil, Aeneid 2.567:

     “Iamque adeō super ūnus eram [...].”

     “And now indeed only I was left [...].”
     (Tmesis: “super” separated from “eram.”)

2. to survive (usually + dative)

   Synonyms: vīvō, supervīvō

   cladi superesse ― to survive the disaster

   • 27 BCE – 25 BCE, Titus Livius, Ab Urbe Condita I.1:

     Nihil praeter arma et naves superesset

     Had nothing survived but their swords and ships

3. to be in abundance, to abound

   Synonyms: abundō, flōreō, niteō, affluō, superfluō

   Antonyms: careō, egeō, dēsum, dēlinquō, deficiō, cessō

4. to be superfluous
5. to support, advocate (for), defend

Usage notes

Despite there being a passive for "to survive" in English, this verb is a completely active verb. Therefore, "to be survived" is expressed by reversing the subject and object.

Conjugation

   Conjugation of supersum (highly irregular, suppletive, no supine stem except in the future active participle, active-only)

indicative		singular			plural
		first	second	third	first	second	third
active	present	supersum	superes	superest	supersumus	superestis	supersunt
	imperfect	supereram	supererās	supererat	supererāmus	supererātis	supererant
	future	supererō	supereris, superere	supererit	supererimus	supereritis	supererunt
	perfect	superfuī	superfuistī	superfuit	superfuimus	superfuistis	superfuērunt, superfuēre
	pluperfect	superfueram	superfuerās	superfuerat	superfuerāmus	superfuerātis	superfuerant
	future perfect	superfuerō	superfueris	superfuerit	superfuerimus	superfueritis	superfuerint
subjunctive		singular			plural
		first	second	third	first	second	third
active	present	supersim	supersīs	supersit	supersīmus	supersītis	supersint
	imperfect	superessem, superforem	superessēs, superforēs	superesset, superforet	superessēmus, superforēmus	superessētis, superforētis	superessent, superforent
	perfect	superfuerim	superfuerīs	superfuerit	superfuerīmus	superfuerītis	superfuerint
	pluperfect	superfuissem	superfuissēs	superfuisset	superfuissēmus	superfuissētis	superfuissent
imperative		singular			plural
		first	second	third	first	second	third
active	present	—	superes	—	—	supereste	—
	future	—	superestō	superestō	—	superestōte	supersuntō
non-finite forms		active			passive
		present	perfect	future	present	perfect	future
infinitives		superesse	superfuisse	superfutūrum esse, superfore	—	—	—
participles		—	—	superfutūrus	—	—	—

References

• “supersum”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• “supersum”, in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
• supersum in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette.
• Dizionario Latino, Olivetti