Kenneth G. Wilson (1923–). The Columbia Guide to Standard American English. 1993.
supersede, supercede, surpass (vv.)
We got the word supersede/supercede from the Latin supersedere, by way of the Old French superceder (later superseder), so etymology offers arguments in favor of each spelling. Supersede is the overwhelming preference of Edited English, although supercede does occur in print. If one regulation replaces another, the new one supersedes the old one; if you excel or outstrip others, you surpass them. See also -CEDE.
