supererogatory

[ soo-per-uh-rog-uh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee ]

/ ˌsu pər əˈrɒg əˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR supererogatory ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

going beyond the requirements of duty.

greater than that required or needed; superfluous.

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of supererogatory

From the Medieval Latin word superērogātōrius, dating back to 1585–95. See supererogate, -tory¹

Related formssu·per·e·rog·a·to·ri·ly, adverb

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

Examples from the Web for supererogatory

It is supererogatory to dispute either of these imperial pronouncements.
Raemaekers' Cartoons|Louis Raemaekers
With the boys this would have been supererogatory, as they were quite naked.
Frank Mildmay|Captain Frederick Marryat
But the supererogatory lie is the gentleman without a voucher or a ticket who accommodates himself with a stool in the passage.
A London Life; The Patagonia; The Liar; Mrs. Temperly|Henry James
As mine was the only hymn-book in the assembly, the mention of the number was a bit of supererogatory business.
When Grandmamma Was New|Marion Harland

What supererogatory marks of special hospitality did the host show his guest?
Ulysses|James Joyce

British Dictionary definitions for supererogatory

supererogatory

/ (ˌsuːpərɛˈrɒɡətərɪ, -trɪ) /

adjective

performed to an extent exceeding that required or expected

exceeding what is needed; superfluous

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

Derived Formssupererogatorily, adverb

Word Origin for supererogatory

C16: from Medieval Latin superērogātōrius; see supererogate

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