To understand the meaning of a word, it's crucial to consider the surrounding text. "Surmounted" can have multiple meanings depending on the context, such as:
* Overcame: If the excerpt describes someone overcoming a challenge, "surmounted" means they successfully faced and conquered it.
* Placed on top of: If the excerpt is describing a physical object, "surmounted" could mean it was placed on top of something else.
* Exceeded: If the excerpt refers to a numerical value, "surmounted" could mean it exceeded a certain limit.
Once you provide the excerpt, I can help you understand the specific meaning of "surmounted" in that context.