a. (sb.) Also 7 -errogatory. [ad. scholastic L. superērogātōrius, f. superērogāt-: see SUPEREROGATE and -ORY2. Cf. Sp. supererogatorio and F. surérogatoire.] Characterized by, or having the nature of, supererogation; going beyond what is commanded or required; loosely, superfluous.
1593. G. Harvey, Pierce’s Super., 18. Were his penne as supererogatory a woorkeman as his harte.
1629. [see SUPEREROGATIVE, quot. 1599].
1640. Howell, Dodona’s Gr. (1645), 105. The supererogatory services, and too great benefits from subjects to kings are of dangerous consequence.
a. 1653. Gouge, Comm. Heb. iv. 16 (1655), 468. The folly of those that trust to the supererrogatory works of others, as if any man were able to do more than he is bound to do.
1720. Welton, Suffer. Son of God, II. xv. 406. Too much taken with Supererogatory Fasts … rather than those which are commanded.
1740. Richardson, Pamela (1824), I. 205. That you could take the faults of others upon yourself; and, by a supposed supererogatory merit, think your interposition sufficient to atone for the faults of others.
1820. Shelley, Prometh. Unb., Pref. Nothing can be equally well expressed in prose that is not tedious and supererogatory in verse.
1860. Motley, Netherl., xix. (1868), II. 484. It had now become supererogatory to ask for Alexander’s word of honour.
1886. Punch, 16 Jan., 28/2. Sending all our spare books, superfluous periodicals, and supererogatory newspapers, to our Hospitals, [etc.].
b. sb. A supererogatory act; a work of supererogation, nonce-use.
1748. Richardson, Clarissa (1811), VIII. 347. Why may I not proceed in my supererogatories? Ibid. (1749–50), Lett. to Mrs. Belfour, 9 Jan. No supererogatories do I allow of in marriage.
Hence † Supererogatorian Obs. nonce-wd., one who believes in supererogation; Supererogatorily adv., in a supererogatory manner, beyond the requirements of the case, superfluously.
1753. Richardson, Grandison (1754), I. vii. 32. With all your relations indeed, their Harriet cannot be in fault…. Supererogatorians all of them (I will make words whenever I please) with their attributions to you.
1838. New Monthly Mag., LII. 446. Many a dial … most supererogatorily informs us that ‘time flies.’
a. 1849. Poe, Cooper, Wks. 1864, III. 397. We are tautologically informed that improvement is a consequence of embellishment and supererogatorily told that the rule holds good only where the embellishment is not accompanied by destruction.
