Also 7 -errogate. [f. L. superērogāt-, pa. ppl. stem of superērogāre, f. super- SUPER- 13 + ērogāre to pay out (see EROGATE v.). Cf. obs. F. supereroguer, obs. It. soprarogare, superarogare.]
† 1. trans. To pay over and above; to spend in addition. Also absol. Obs. rare.
1582. N. T. (Rhem.), Luke x. 35. He tooke forth two pence, and gave to the host, and said, Have care of him: and whatsoever thou shalt supererogate [Vulg. supererogaveris] I at my returne wil repay thee.
1613. Purchas, Pilgrimage, II. viii. 118. Besides that which the Law enioyned (which is iust debt) they supererogated, and of their owne free accord disbursed vpon the Temple and Sacrifices.
† b. To grant or bestow in addition. Obs. rare–1.
1644. Bp. Maxwell, Prerog. Chr. Kings, 188. The Lord … in his bounty supererogated what was fit for his more magnificence.
2. intr. To do more than is commanded or required; spec. to perform a work or works of SUPEREROGATION. ? Obs.
1593. Bell, Motives conc. Romish Faith (1605), 26. The cause that pardons are of force, is the vnity of the mysticall bodie, in which many haue supererogated in the woorkes of penance, to the measure of their owne demerites.
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., III. iv. I. i. 714. We cannot … haue any perfection in this life, much lesse supererogate.
1651. Baxter, Inf. Bapt., 303. Can that be obedience which hath no command for it? Is not this to supererogate? and to be righteous over much?
1661. Glanvill, Van. Dogm., 164. Aristotle acted his own instructions; and his obsequious Sectators have super-erogated in observance.
1699. Burnet, 39 Art., xiv. 135. Unless it can be supposed that by obeying those Counsels a Man can compensate with Almighty God for his Sins, there is no ground to think that he can supererogate.
1727. J. Richardson, Gt. Folly Pilgr. Irel., 81. If it should be granted that some have supererogated, that is brought God into Debt to them.
† b. Const. of, with the person in whose service the works are performed. Obs.
1608. Bp. Hall, Pharis. & Chr. (1609), B vij. Gods Law was too strait for their holinesse: It was nothing, vnlesse they did more then content God, earne him (for these were Popish Iewes) and supererogate of him. Ibid. (1618), Contempl., O. T., XIII. Jonathan’s Love. That good Captaine little imagining, that himselfe was the Philistim, whom Saul maligned, supererogates of his Master, and brings two hundred for one.
a. 1643. J. Shute, Judgem. & Mercy (1645), 217. But have we brought forth fruit? Oh, some fruits we supererogate with God in.
1644. Bp. Maxwell, Prerog. Chr. Kings, 168. They may supererogate with their Prince, by doing many Acts of bounty, favour and Grace.
† c. trans. To do (something) beyond what is required; to perform as a work of supererogation. Obs. rare.
1621. Bp. Mountagu, Diatribæ, 379. They teach … that Tithing πᾶν λάχανον, was not commanded, but supererogated to the Law. Ibid. (1624), Gagg, 100. Workes supererogated by them, when they doe more than God requireth.
† d. intr. To make up by excess of merit for the failing of another. Obs.
1625. Jackson, Creed, V. xxxii. § 4. Both of them presumed their zealous costs upon Saints monuments, should … supererogate for their predecessors sins.
1649. Milton, Eikon., xxiv. 195. The fervencie of one man in prayer cannot supererogate for the coldness of another.
† e. trans. To deserve and more than deserve. Obs. rare.
1639. Fuller, Holy War, V. xvi. (1647), 257. Having supererrogated the gallows … by their several misdemeanours.
Hence Supererogating vbl. sb. and ppl. a.
1603. Super-supererogating [see SUPER- 9 b].
1627. W. Sclater, Expos. 2 Thess. (1629), 3. That euer thought of supererogating should enter the heart of man.
a. 1643. Ld. Falkland, etc., Infallibility (1646), 158. It might be but an act of a little supererogating charity, if you would sometimes prove your assertions, even when by strict law you were not bound to it.
1673. Hickeringill, Greg. F. Greyb., 43. If their merits were never so … supererogating.
1674. Burnet, Subjection (1675), 2. Not content with the strictest rigors of Justice, our Saviour hath also obliged us to the supererogatings (if I may so speak) of Charity.
1683. E. Hooker, Pref. Pordage’s Mystic Div. 67. Nor any supererogating perfections, or rather præsumptuous … enthusiasms.
1692. Patrick, Answ. Touchstone, 122. What doth this Discourse prove? But that they shall have a greater reward themselves? but there is not a syllable of their supererogating for others.
