super-
ˈsuːpər
super- climbs on top and steps over the line
The picture Something sits one level up, looking down — or steps clean over the ordinary line. super- sits on top; sub- lies underneath.
Where the picture shows up in super-
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watching from above
Ask the supervisor at the front desk.
æsk ðə ˈsuːpərvaɪzər æt ðə frʌnt desk
Ask the manager at the front desk.
From a seat a step higher than the floor, someone's eyes run over the work below.
super (above) + vis (see).
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past ordinary shop size
The supermarket across the street is open.
ðə ˈsuːpərmɑːrkɪt əˈkrɔːs ðə striːt ɪz ˈoʊpən
The big store across the road is open.
Beside a tiny corner shop stands a hall with rows and rows of aisles.
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only on the surface
It is only a superficial cut.
ɪt ɪz ˈoʊnli ə ˌsuːpərˈfɪʃəl kʌt
It is just a shallow cut.
Only the top skin is scored; everything under it is untouched.
super (above) + fic (surface).
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laid over the top
The logo is superimposed on the photo.
ðə ˈloʊɡoʊ ɪz ˌsuːpərɪmˈpoʊzd ɑːn ðə ˈfoʊtoʊ
The logo sits on top of the photo.
Over the photo, one more layer of clear film carrying letters comes down.
super (over) + impose (lay).
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past what a person can do
My son loves superhero movies.
maɪ sʌn lʌvz ˈsuːpərhɪroʊ ˈmuːviz
My son loves hero films.
Someone leaves the height of a person behind and clears the rooftops in one jump.
All of it in one picture
super- is one raised seat. Stand above the work and watch it and you are a supervisor; grow past the size of a normal shop and you are a supermarket. Scrape only the top skin and the cut is superficial; lay letters over a photo and they are superimposed; jump past what a person can do and you have a superhero. So with super-, ask what it is above, or which ordinary line it just stepped over.