superannuated

[soo-per-an-yoo-ey-tid]

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adjective

retired because of age or infirmity.

too old for use, work, service, or a position.

antiquated or obsolete: superannuated ideas.

Origin of superannuated

1625–35; alteration (with -u- of annual) of Medieval Latin superannātus over a year old (said of cattle), equivalent to super ann(um) beyond a year + -ātus -ate¹; see -ed²

superannuate

[soo-per-an-yoo-eyt]

verb (used with object), su·per·an·nu·at·ed, su·per·an·nu·at·ing.

to allow to retire from service or office on a pension because of age or infirmity.

to set aside as out of date; remove as too old.

verb (used without object), su·per·an·nu·at·ed, su·per·an·nu·at·ing.

to be or become old, out of date, or retired.

Origin of superannuate

First recorded in 1640–50; back formation from superannuated

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for superannuated

antiquated, outmoded, dated, aged, old, old-fashioned, outdated, obsolete, senile, passe

Examples from the Web for superannuated

Historical Examples of superannuated

It is too depressing, these vagaries, these senile ramblings of a superannuated musician.
Old Fogy
James Huneker
Started a superannuated fortune, and just now upon the full scent.
The Works of Charles and Mary Lamb
Charles Lamb
It was a boon to superannuated officers, and the number was limited.
The Indian in his Wigwam
Henry R. Schoolcraft
Then there will be a demonstration, at any rate, and then the thing will be superannuated.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Vol. 65, No. 400, February, 1849
Various
Of their small force some of the soldiers were superannuated, others invalid.
The Fort Dearborn Massacre
Linai Taliaferro Helm

British Dictionary definitions for superannuated

superannuated

adjective

discharged, esp with a pension, owing to age or illness

too old to serve usefully

obsolete

Word Origin for superannuated

C17: from Medieval Latin superannātus aged more than one year, from Latin super- + annus a year

superannuate

verb (tr)

to pension off

to discard as obsolete or old-fashioned

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for superannuated

adj.

"retired on account of old age," 1630s, "obsolete, out of date," from Medieval Latin superannuatus "more than a year old" (of cattle), from Latin super "beyond, over" (see super-) + annus "year" (see annual).

superannuate

1640s, back-formation from superannuated. Related: Superannuating.