What is "supererogation"

Supererogation \Su`per*er`o*ga"tion\, n. [L. supererogatio a payment in addition.] The act of supererogating; performance of more than duty or necessity requires.

Works of supererogation (R. C. Ch.), those good deeds believed to have been performed by saints, or capable of being performed by men, over and above what is required for their own salvation.

1520s, "performance of more than duty requires," in Catholic theology, from Late Latin supererogationem (nominative supererogatio) "a payment in addition," noun of action from past participle stem of supererogare "pay or do additionally," from Latin super "above, over" (see super-) + erogare "pay out," from ex- "out" (see ex-) + rogare "ask, request" (see rogation).

n. Doing more than is required.

n. an effort above and beyond the call of duty

Supererogation ( Late Latin: supererogatio "payment beyond what is due or asked", from super "beyond" and erogare "to pay out, expend" [from ex "out" and rogare "to ask"]) is the performance of more than is asked for; the action of doing more than duty requires. In ethics, an act is supererogatory if it is good but not morally required to be done. It refers to an act that is more than necessary, when another course of action—involving less—would still be an acceptable action. It differs from a duty (which is an act that would be wrong not to do), and from acts that are morally neutral. Supererogation may be considered as performing above and beyond a normative course of duty to further benefits and functionality.