Supervening: meaning, definitions and examples

Etymology

• Originates from the Latin word 'supervenire', meaning 'to come upon' or 'to arrive above'.
• The term combines 'super-', meaning 'above' or 'beyond', and 'venire', meaning 'to come'.
• The first recorded use of the term in English dates back to the 15th century.

Philosophy

• In philosophical discussions, 'supervening' often refers to a relationship where higher properties depend on lower ones.
• A classic example is how moral properties may supervene on physical properties, meaning moral facts rely on the physical ones.
• It raises interesting debates about how different levels of reality interact with each other.

Law

• In legal contexts, 'supervening' refers to events that occur after a contract is made, affecting its performance.
• Courts might consider supervening impossibility, where a contract cannot be fulfilled due to unforeseen circumstances.
• This concept helps in resolving disputes where circumstances change unexpectedly.

Science

• In chemistry, supervening effects can occur when new properties emerge in a complex system.
• In psychology, behaviors may supervene as new levels of mental states develop.
• This concept is important in understanding how systems evolve over time and how new traits can arise.

Literature

• Writers often use supervening events as plot devices to introduce conflict or resolution in stories.
• In narratives, something supervening can dramatically change character dynamics or the storyline.
• It’s a way to show how unexpected developments affect the original situation.

This word's position of #31,765 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.

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