Superintendencies

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The offices or roles involving the oversight and administration of various activities or projects within an organization
2. The designated authority responsible for directing and managing specific operational functions or tasks
3. A supervisory position that entails organizing, controlling, and evaluating the performance of a particular group or program

Etymology: "Superintendencies" is simply the plural of "superintendency", the office or term of office held by a superintendent. The singular is built from "superintend", which comes from Late Latin "superintendere", meaning "to oversee", formed from Latin "super" ("over") and "intendere" ("to direct, turn toward"). So the word's core idea is literally directing one's attention or effort from above. The plural form is used when more than one such office or area of oversight is in view, as in a set of regional posts or several separate supervisory roles.