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supererogatory

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

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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR supererogatory ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

going beyond the requirements of duty.

greater than that required or needed; superfluous.

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

Related Words for supererogatory

abounding, dispensable, excess, excessive, exorbitant, expendable, extra, extravagant, extreme, gratuitous, inessential, inordinate, lavish, leftover, needless, nonessential, overflowing, overmuch, pleonastic, profuse

Examples from the Web for supererogatory

Historical Examples of supererogatory

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.
Java, Facts and Fancies
Augusta de Wit

British Dictionary definitions for supererogatory

supererogatory

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

Word Origin and History for supererogatory

adj.

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

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper