supreme definition

1. Highest in authority; holding the highest place in authority, government, or power. "He that is the supreme King of kings." (Shak)

2. Highest; greatest; most excellent or most extreme; utmost; greatist possible (sometimes in a bad sense); as, supreme love; supreme glory; supreme magnanimity; supreme folly. "Each would be supreme within its own sphere, and those spheres could not but clash." (De Quincey)

3. <botany> Situated at the highest part or point. The Supreme, the Almighty; God.

Origin: L. Supremus, superlative of superus that is above, upper, fr. Super above: cf. F. Supreme. See Super-, and cf. Sum.

(01 Mar 1998)