supernumerary
[ soo-per-noo-muh-rer-ee, -nyoo- ]
/ ˌsu pərˈnu məˌrɛr i, -ˈnyu- /
adjective
being in excess of the usual, proper, or prescribed number; additional; extra.
associated with a regular body or staff as an assistant or substitute in case of necessity.
noun, plural su·per·nu·mer·ar·ies.
a supernumerary or extra person or thing.
a supernumerary official or employee.
a person who appears in a play or film without speaking lines or as part of a crowd; walk-on; extra.
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Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for supernumerary
British Dictionary definitions for supernumerary
supernumerary
/ (ˌsuːpəˈnjuːmərərɪ, -ˈnjuːmrərɪ) /
adjective
exceeding a regular or proper number; extra
functioning as a substitute or assistant with regard to a regular body or staff
noun plural -aries
a person or thing that exceeds the normal, required, or regular number
a person who functions as a substitute or assistant
an actor who has no lines, esp a nonprofessional one
Word Origin for supernumerary
C17: from Late Latin supernumerārius, from Latin super- + numerus number
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 supernumerary
supernumerary
c.1600, from Late Latin supernumarius "excessive in number" (of soldiers added to a full legion), from Latin super numerum "beyond the number," from super "beyond, over" (see super-) + numerum, accusative of numerus "number" (see number (n.)).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Medicine definitions for supernumerary
supernumerary
[ sōō′pər-nōō′mə-rĕr′ē ]
adj.
Exceeding the normal or usual number; extra.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.