expression, noun-modifying (irregular)
exceeding what one had heard; beyond expectations
Set phrase used when something is even more impressive, beautiful, or terrible than one had heard beforehand. Often modifies a noun.
Mt. Fuji was more beautiful than I had heard.
That movie is more interesting than I had heard.
Standard kanji spelling for this set phrase.
Kana-mixed variant; the verb まさる is often written in kana.
From classical Japanese 聞きし (attributive form of 聞く 'hear' + past auxiliary き) + に + 勝る 'surpass'. Literally 'surpasses what one heard'.