Baretti: A dictionary of the English and Italian languages
Soprastáre, v. a. & n. (V. stare,)
1. to stand above or over, to be superior, to hang over, to command. Un monte che soprasta la città, a hill that commands the town; 2. (fig.) to domineer, bear rule or sway, command. L'uomo superbo vuol — a tutti, e a niuno essere sommesso,a proud man desires to domineer over every body, but will submit to no one; 3. to subdue, overcome, conquer; 4. to forbear, restrain, contain one's self; 5. to delay, put off, retard. Che delle sette volte le sei soprastanno a maritarle, who think above six times before they marry them; 6. to threaten, be ready to fall, be imminent. Vi soprasta una gran disgrazia,a great misfortune is ready to fall upon you; 7. to adapt one's self upon any thing;8. to wait; 9. to be next in succession; 10. to cease; 11. to be intent upon something. Soprastarsi all'acqua, to shoot along or swim upon the water.
Florio: a worlde of wordes, or most copious, dictionarie in Italian and English
soprastare: to stand vpon, ouer or aboue. Also to exceede, to excell, to surpasse. Also to be eminent as it were hanging ouer ones head. Also as Soprasodére.