supererogatory

American  

[soo-per-uh-rog-uh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] / ˌsu pər əˈrɒg əˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i /

adjective

1. going beyond the requirements of duty.

2. greater than that required or needed; superfluous.

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supererogatory British  

/ -trɪ, ˌsuːpərɛˈrɒɡətərɪ /

adjective

1. performed to an extent exceeding that required or expected

2. exceeding what is needed; superfluous

3. RC Church of, characterizing, or relating to prayers, good works, etc, performed over and above those prescribed as obligatory

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Other Word Forms

• supererogatorily adverb

Etymology

Origin of supererogatory

From the Medieval Latin word superērogātōrius, dating back to 1585–95. See supererogate, -tory ¹

Example Sentences

Acts of charity are, by definition, supererogatory — commendably above and beyond what moral duty requires.

From New York Times

But for most of us, who have a body of knowledge to talk about and some stories to tell, slideware is supererogatory.

From Forbes

He’s an ineffective, chronically ruminative man who thinks of himself as a “supererogatory weirdo.”

From Washington Post

No conditions seem so propitious for a practical confederation as those of Spanish America; with a few exceptions, the virtual unity of language, laws, general race-ideals, would seem to render protection of frontiers supererogatory.

From Project Gutenberg

For one so often finds that acts specially showing delicacy and considerateness, little supererogatory works of kindness, are taken unkindly.

From Project Gutenberg