supplant
to take the place of or replace by displacement
Roots
- planta (foot): sole of the foot, or planting the foot
- sub-: under, below, or after
Supplant uses the foot sense of plant: one thing plants itself under or in place of another.
The newer method supplanted the old one once results improved.
This is the foot word, not the growth word. The old image is planting a foot under someone or stepping into another's place. Modern supplant means replace, often by displacing what was there before.