supererogatory

[ soo-per-uh-rog-uh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee ]
/ ˌsu pər əˈrɒg əˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR supererogatory ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

going beyond the requirements of duty.
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

OTHER WORDS FROM supererogatory

su·per·e·rog·a·to·ri·ly, adverb

Words nearby supererogatory

superelevation, supereminent, superencipher, supererogate, supererogation, supererogatory, superette, superexcitation, superfamily, superfecta, superfecundation
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to supererogatory

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

Example sentences from the Web for supererogatory

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 forms of supererogatory

supererogatorily, 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