First Known Use: circa 1648
Dictionary
supervene
intransitive verb su·per·vene \ˌsü-pər-ˈvēn\
: to happen unexpectedly in a way that interrupts, stops, or greatly changes an existing situation
su·per·venedsu·per·ven·ing
Full Definition of SUPERVENE
: to follow or result as an additional, adventitious, or unlooked-for development
— su·per·ven·tion \-ˈven(t)-shən\ noun
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Origin of SUPERVENE
Latin supervenire, from super- + venire to come — more at come
Synonym Discussion of SUPERVENE
follow, succeed, ensue, supervene mean to come after something or someone. follow may apply to a coming after in time, position, or logical sequence <speeches followed the dinner>. succeed implies a coming after immediately in a sequence determined by natural order, inheritance, election, or laws of rank <she succeeded her father as head of the business>. ensue commonly suggests a logical consequence or naturally expected development <after the talk a general discussion ensued>. supervene suggests the following or beginning of something unforeseen or unpredictable <unable to continue because of supervening circumstances>.
Rhymes with SUPERVENE
Aberdeen, almandine, amandine, argentine, Argentine, atropine, Balanchine, barkentine, bengaline, blanc de chine, bombazine, Borodin, brigandine, brigantine, brilliantine, Byzantine, carotene, carrageen, celandine, clozapine, contravene, crepe de chine, crystalline, damascene, Dexedrine, dopamine, Dramamine, drum machine, duvetyn, eglantine, endocrine, Eocene, epicene, estuarine, evergreen, fescennine, figurine, Florentine, gabardine, gaberdine, gadarene, galantine, gasoline, Ghibelline, go-between, golden mean, grenadine, Gretna Green, guillotine, Halloween, haute cuisine, Hippocrene, histamine, Holocene, in-between, indigene, intervene, jelly bean, Josephine, jumping bean, kerosene, kidney bean, langoustine, legatine, lethal gene, Levantine, libertine, limousine, lycopene, M16, magazine, make the scene, mangosteen, margravine, Medellín, melamine, messaline, mezzanine, Miocene, mousseline, navy bean, Nazarene, nectarine, nicotine, opaline, organzine, palanquin, pelerine, percaline, peregrine, philhellene, Philistine, pinto bean, Pleistocene, Pliocene, riverine, quarantine, reserpine, saccharine, Sakhalin, Saladin, San Joaquin, sapphirine, schizophrene, serpentine, seventeen, sibylline, slot machine, submarine, subroutine, tambourine, tangerine, Theatine, time machine, tourmaline, trampoline, transmarine, travertine, Tridentine, Ursuline, Vaseline, velveteen, wintergreen, wolverine, zibeline
Medical Dictionary
supervene
intransitive verb su·per·vene \ˌsü-pər-ˈvēn\
su·per·venedsu·per·ven·ing
Medical Definition of SUPERVENE
: to follow or result as an additional, adventitious, or unlooked-for development (as in the course of a disease) <the majority of patients die once this complication supervenes—Scientific American Medicine>
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