supererogatory

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

adjective

1. going beyond the requirements of duty.

2. greater than that required or needed; superfluous.

supererogatory

/ -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

Other Word Forms

• supererogatorily adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of supererogatory¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of supererogatory¹

C16: from Medieval Latin superērogātōrius; see _supererogate

Example Sentences

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

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

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

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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.

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

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