superada

Superada is the feminine singular past participle of the Spanish verb superar. As an adjective, it describes something that has been overcome or surpassed. As part of passive or semi-passive constructions, it appears with ser or estar to indicate a state resulting from previous action, with agreement in gender and number with the noun it modifies.

Etymology: superada is derived from the verb superar, which in turn comes from Latin superare, formed from the prefix super- meaning over or above and the infinitive ending -are. The suffix -ada is a common feminine participial ending in Spanish for this type of verb-derived adjective.

Usage notes: The masculine singular form is superado; the plural forms are superados (masculine) and superadas (feminine). Examples: "La barrera fue superada" (the barrier was overcome); "La meta está superada" (the goal is surpassed); "La trabajadora se siente superada por la carga" (the worker feels overwhelmed by the workload). When used attributively, superada agrees with the noun: "una tarea superada" or "las tareas superadas."

Other uses: The expression "superada por" can describe being overwhelmed or surpassed by circumstances. For instance, "La ciudad está superada por la demanda" communicates that demand has exceeded the city’s capacity.

Related terms: superar, superación, sobrepasar. Superada shares its semantic field with these words, which express overcoming or exceeding limits, as well as the effort or process involved in reaching a higher level.