Both Uses of
surmount
in
Common Sense, by Thomas Paine
- Thus necessity, like a gravitating power, would soon form our newly arrived emigrants into society, the reciprocal blessings of which, would supersede, and render the obligations of law and government unnecessary while they remained perfectly just to each other; but as nothing but heaven is impregnable to vice, it will unavoidably happen, that in proportion as they surmount the first difficulties of emigration, which bound them together in a common cause, they will begin to relax in their duty and attachment to each other; and this remissness will point out the necessity of establishing some form of government to supply the defect of moral virtue.†
Chpt 1.surmount = overcome
- It is pleasant to observe by what regular gradations we surmount the force of local prejudice, as we enlarge our acquaintance with the world.†
Chpt 3. *
Definitions:
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(1)
(surmount) overcome (to successfully deal with an obstacle)
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(2)
(meaning too rare to warrant focus) More rarely, surmount may mean to get on top of, be on top of, or reach the highest point of.