Surmount, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Surmounted; p. pr. & vb. n. Surmounting.]
Etymology: [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. The mountains of Olympus, Athos, and Atlas, overreach and surmount all winds and clouds. Sir W. Raleigh.
2. To conquer; to overcome; as, to surmount difficulties or obstacles. Macaulay.
3. To surpass; to exceed. Spenser. What surmounts the reach Of human sense I shall delineate. Milton.
Syn. -- To conquer; overcome; vanquish; subdue; surpass; exceed.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for surmount; he lists it under conquer.
He lists it without comment; the entries above explain its neighbors.