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supererogatory

[soo-per-uh-rog-uh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee]
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adjective
  1. going beyond the requirements of duty.
  2. greater than that required or needed; superfluous.
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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. 2018

Related Words

aboundingdispensableexcessexcessiveexorbitantexpendableextraextravagantextremegratuitousinessentialinordinatelavishleftoverneedlessnonessentialoverflowingovermuchpleonasticprofuse

Examples from the Web for supererogatory

Historical Examples

  • When I saw him last, the process would not have been so supererogatory.

    Cornelius O'Dowd Upon Men And Women And Other Things In General

    Charles Lever

  • To some it may seem unwelcome, to others redundant and supererogatory.

    Second Sight

    Sepharial

  • With the boys this would have been supererogatory, as they were quite naked.

    Frank Mildmay

    Captain Frederick Marryat

  • What supererogatory marks of special hospitality did the host show his guest?

    Ulysses

    James Joyce

  • Where merits are equal, the supererogatory decides the contest.

British Dictionary definitions for supererogatory

supererogatory

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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Derived Formssupererogatorily, adverb

Word Origin

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

Word Origin and History for supererogatory

adj.

1590s, from Medieval Latin supererogatorius, from supererogat-, stem of supererogare (see supererogation).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper