The Collaborative International Dictionary
Superintend \Su`per*in*tend"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Superintended; p. pr. & vb. n. Superintending.] [L. superintendere. See Super-, and Intend.] To have or exercise the charge and oversight of; to oversee with the power of direction; to take care of with authority; to supervise; as, an officer superintends the building of a ship or the construction of a fort.
The king may appoint a council, who may superintend the
works of this nature.
--Bacon.
Syn: Superintend, Supervise.
Usage: These words in general use are the synonymous. As sometimes used, supervise implies the more general, and superintend, the more particular and constant, inspection or direction. Among architects there is a disposition to use the word supervise in the sense of a general oversight of the main points of construction with reference to the design, etc., and to employ the word superintend to signify a constant, careful attention to all the details of construction. But this technical distinction is not firmly established.
Wiktionary
vb. (present participle of superintend English)
Usage examples of "superintending".
I should prefer this too for another reason, that the upper as well as lower house should have an opportunity of superintending & judging of the situation of the whole state & be not all of one neighborhood as our upper house used to be.
On the subject of your superintending the execution of the work it would be premature to say any thing till the legislature shall have declared their will.
We see, too, evident proofs of the necessity of a superintending power to maintain the Universe in it's course and order.
Pilkington, the housekeeper at Gauntly Hall, was growing exceedingly old, feeble, and rheumatic: she was not equal to the work of superintending that vast mansion, and must be on the look-out for a successor.
Lady Jane, in her morning-gown, was up and above stairs in the nursery superintending the toilettes of her children, and listening to the morning prayers which the little creatures performed at her knee.
The governor of Breda, Edward Lanzavecchia, was absent superintending the erection of new fortifications at Gertruydenberg, and in his absence the town was under the command of his son Paolo.