Supernumerary vs Superfluous - What's the difference?
supernumerary | superfluous | Synonyms |
A civil designation for somebody who works in a group, association or public office, without forming part of the regular staff; those distinguished from numerary. (For example, supernumerary judges are those who help the regular judges when there is a surplus amount of work.)
An extra or walk-on in a film or play; spear-carrier.
* 1992', Sarah Anne Sloane, '''''Supernumeraries at bushtit (Psaltriparus minimus) nests (page 50)
Extra; beyond the standard or prescribed amount or number.
* 1948': Aldous Huxley, ''Ape and Essence'', page 74:
Greater in number than.
Beyond what is necessary.
In excess of what is required or sufficient.
Supernumerary is a synonym of superfluous.
As adjectives the difference between supernumerary and superfluous
is that supernumerary is extra; beyond the standard or prescribed amount or number while superfluous is in excess of what is required or sufficient.As a noun supernumerary
is a civil designation for somebody who works in a group, association or public office, without forming part of the regular staff; those distinguished from numerary (for example, supernumerary judges are those who help the regular judges when there is a surplus amount of work).supernumerary
English
Noun
(supernumeraries)Adjective
(-)'''1949''' “Chatto & Windus” edition]; [http://books.google.co.uk/books?lr=&ei=-kZSSb6rBIjcygTtre2LAg&id=mYorAAAAYAAJ&dq=%22Ape+and+Essence%22+supernumerary&q=supernumerary&pgis=1#search_anchor '1972 “Harper & Row” edition
- Over close-ups of little faces with hare lips, little trunks with stumps instead of legs and arms, little hands with clusters of supernumerary fingers, little bodies adorned with a double row of nipples, we hear the voice of the Narrator.
Quotations
* (English Citations of "supernumerary")External links
* * *superfluous
English
Adjective
(-)- With a full rain suit, carrying an umbrella may be superfluous .
