The Collaborative International Dictionary
Supererogatory \Su`per*e*rog"a*to*ry\, a.
Performed to an extent not enjoined, or not required, by duty
or necessity; as, supererogatory services.
--Howell.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
1590s, from Medieval Latin supererogatorius, from supererogat-, stem of supererogare "pay or do additionally" (see supererogation).
Wiktionary
a. Pertaining to supererogation; doing more than is required, especially with reference to good works in Roman Catholicism
WordNet
adj. more than is needed, desired, or required; "trying to lose excess weight"; "found some extra change lying on the dresser"; "yet another book on heraldry might be thought redundant"; "skills made redundant by technological advance"; "sleeping in the spare room"; "supernumerary ornamentation"; "it was supererogatory of her to gloat"; "delete superfluous (or unnecessary) words"; "extra ribs as well as other supernumerary internal parts"; "surplus cheese distributed to the needy" [syn: excess, extra, redundant, spare, superfluous, supernumerary, surplus]
Usage examples of "supererogatory".
There were always a few of the laity there on their knees beyond the parish altar, some who had missed their parish Mass for varying reasons, some who were old and solitary and filled up their lonely time with supererogatory worship, some who had special pleas to make, and sought an extra opportunity of approaching grace.
Brother Eluric had surely risen ahead of his kin, and was already on his knees somewhere in the church, engaged in supererogatory prayer.
He then pointed to Vade Mecum and she started to explain that this was Latin, but she realized from teaching children that this was supererogatory.