*surmount*

a. [ Pref. in- not + surmountable: cf. F. insurmountable. ] Incapable of being passed over, surmounted, or overcome; insuperable; as, insurmountable difficulty or obstacle. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

Hope thinks nothing difficult; despair tells us that difficulty is insurmountable. I. Watts.

Syn. -- Insuperable; impassable; invincible. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state or quality of being insurmountable; insurmountability. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a manner or to a degree not to be overcome. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Surmounted; p. pr. & vb. n. Surmounting. ] [ OE. sourmounten, OF. surmonter, sormonter, F. surmonter; sur over + monter to mount. See Sur-, and Mount, v. i. ] 1. To rise above; to be higher than; to overtop. [ 1913 Webster ]

The mountains of Olympus, Athos, and Atlas, overreach and surmount all winds and clouds. Sir W. Raleigh. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To conquer; to overcome; as, to surmount difficulties or obstacles. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To surpass; to exceed. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

What surmounts the reach
Of human sense I shall delineate. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To conquer; overcome; vanquish; subdue; surpass; exceed. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. surmontable. ] Capable of being surmounted or overcome; superable. -- Sur*mount"a*ble*ness, n. [1913 Webster]

a. 1. (Arch.) Having its vertical height greater than the half span; -- said of an arch. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Her.) Partly covered by another charge; -- said of an ordinary or other bearing. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who, or that which, surmounts. [ 1913 Webster ]