sovrastare

to tower over; to dominate

verb soh-vrahs-TAH-reh Rare

Also means

to overlook, to loom over

Usage Note

Sovrastare is composed of sovra- ('over') + stare ('to stand/be'). It can be physical ('the mountain towers over the valley') or figurative ('his talent dominates the competition'). It takes avere as auxiliary in its transitive use. The adjective sovrastante ('overhanging, dominant') is common in architectural and landscape description.

Examples

"Le montagne sovrastano la valle."

Natural Translation

The mountains tower over the valley.

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