supernumeraryadj.n.
/ˌsuːpəˈnjuːmər(ər)i/, /ˌsjuːpəˈnjuːmər(ər)i/, U.S. /ˈˌsupərˈn(j)uməˌrɛri/ A. adj.
1.
a. That is beyond or in excess of a usual, regular, stated, or prescribed number or amount; additional, extra, or left over. Now rare.
(a) Without construction.
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1605 F. Bacon Of Aduancem. Learning ii. sig. Bb3 As for that part [of theology], which seemeth supernumerarie, which is Prophecie, it is but Diuine Historie. View more context for this quotation
1646 Sir T. Browne Pseudodoxia Epidemica iv. xii. 219 The intercalation of one day every fourth yeare,..or 6 houres supernumerary . View more context for this quotation
1712 T. Hearne Let. 7 Aug. in Remarks & Coll. (1889) III. 425 Mr. Burgher's Plate is mightily approv'd of... I have had supernumerary Copies wrought off.
1749 J. Mason Ess. Power of Numbers & Princ. Harmony 61 This Measure consists of all Trochees, with a supernumerary long Syllable at the End of the Line.
1831 D. Brewster Treat. Optics xxxii. 265 Within the primary rainbow,..and without the secondary one, there have been seen supernumerary bows.
1844 H. Stephens Bk. of Farm II. 609 It is necessary when a lamb is left an orphan, or is supernumerary, to mother it, as it is termed, upon another ewe.
1960 G. Katona Powerful Consumer i. ii. 11 Millions of families now have ‘supernumerary incomes’. They are in a position to spend money on things other than necessities.
(b) With to.
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1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost x. 887 A Rib..from me drawn, Well if thrown out, as supernumerarie To my just number found. View more context for this quotation
1670 J. Wallis Let. in S. P. Rigaud & S. J. Rigaud Corr. Sci. Men 17th Cent. (1841) (modernized text) II. 519 I sent yesterday..a cut supernumerary to perfect what I sent you before.
1704 R. Sault tr. W. Beveridge in tr. A. Strauch Breviarium Chronologicum (ed. 2) i. vii. 54 The Annual Lunar Epacts are the days of a Solar year supernumerary to those of a Lunar.
1778 Parl. Reg. 1775–80 IX. 230 The horses that drew it [sc. the artillery] were supernumerary to those which were sufficient for all the carts and waggons.
1844 H. Browne Ordo Sæclorum iii. 422 This last half week is supernumerary to the seventy.
1966 R. J. Hammond Portugal & Afr. viii. 240 They [sc. the papers] are supernumerary to the regular series.
b. spec. Designating an official, officer, or employee associated with but not formally belonging to a regular body or staff, esp. so as to assist in case of need or emergency; that is a supernumerary (in various senses of B. 2).
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society > authority > office > holder of office > [adjective] > other types of official generally
simplec1380
general1400
specialc1400
ordinary1524
supernumeral1565
supernumerary1624
unfixed1661
1624 Abp. J. Williams in S. R. Gardiner Fortescue Papers (1871) 203 To make him a supernumerarye Iudge of the Common Pleas, without fee or charge.
1683 W. Lloyd in H. Ellis Orig. Lett. Eminent Literary Men (1843) (Camden) 188 To be a supernumerary Usher in his Schoole.
1726 J. Ayliffe Parergon Juris Canonici Anglicani 139 In some of the said Churches there are supernumerary Canons (whom we falsely call Prebendaries).
a1791 J. Wesley Minutes Several Conversat. in Wks. (1830) VIII. 326 How can we provide for superannuated and supernumerary Preachers?
1802 C. James New Mil. Dict. Supernumerary... In a strict military sense it means the officers and non-commissioned officers that are attached to a regiment or battalion for the purpose of supplying the places of such as fall in action, and for the better management of the rear ranks when the front is advancing or engaged.
1824 in Spirit of Public Jrnls. (1825) 309 A youthful supernumerary compositor..in a printing establishment.
1902 ‘C. E. Craddock’ Champion x. 254 The bandy-legged scamp..had once been employed about the theatre as a supernumerary actor.
1924 Times 11 June 15/5 His status was that of a supernumerary Fellow under Statute XVI.
2008 E. Hill So you want to be Med. Mum? 189 In a junior post, or as a supernumerary doctor, it's easier to miss the odd day here and there.
2.
a. Biology. Of a part of a person, animal, or plant: present in excess of the normal number; extra.
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the world > life > biology > organism > organ or part of organism > [adjective]
supernumeral1565
supernumerary1612
abducent1722
heteronomous1870
1612 tr. J. Guillemeau Child-birth 35 (heading) Other imperfections, that accompanie the Child, when he is borne: as..a hare lip, and supernumerarie fingers.
1733 G. Douglas tr. J. B. Winslow Anat. Expos. Struct. Human Body I. ii. 53 I call by the name of supernumerary Bones, several pieces found in some Skulls, chiefly between the Parietal and Occipital Bones.
1768 B. Ruspini Treat. Teeth 5 All the Teeth that exceed the number of 32, may be reckoned as supernumerary.
1800 E. Darwin Phytologia 532 Those flowers..are liable to shew a tendency to become double, by having one or two supernumerary petals in each flower.
1828 J. Stark Elements Nat. Hist. I. 469 Dactylopterus..volitans,..supernumerary pectoral fins very large.
1876 T. Bryant Pract. Surg. (ed. 2) I. xiii. 541 Supernumerary teeth..are not infrequently found in the upper incisive region.
1904 G. S. Hall Adolescence (1905) I. vi. 421 Polymasty or supernumerary breasts occurs about once in five hundred persons.
1968 H. M. Lenhoff in M. Florkin & B. T. Scheer Chem. Zool. II. ii. iii. 200 Some of the otherwise-recovered hydra developed supernumerary tentacles.
2006 S. Dallas et al. Grooming Man. Dog & Cat iii. 50 Some breeds [of dog] have extra or supernumerary toes, e.g. Pyrenean Mountain and Newfoundland.
b. Genetics. Designating a chromosome which is present in addition to the normal complement of chromosomes in an individual or species, and which is typically small and inherited in an irregular manner. Cf. B chromosome n. (b) at B n. Additions.
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the world > life > biology > biological processes > genetic activity > genetic components > [adjective] > chromosome > types of chromosome
supernumerary1907
autosomal1911
lampbrush1911
trisomic1921
hexasomic1922
tetrasomic1922
monosomic1926
polytene1935
polytenic1952
polysomal1962
polytenized1974
1907 E. B. Wilson in Biol. Bull. 12 304 The unpaired chromosome may be either present or absent in either the male or female, and hence is without significance in sex-production. It is in fact a kind of supernumerary chromosome, which I shall designate as the ‘s-chromosome’ in order to distinguish it from the odd sex-chromosome of the usual type.
1927 Jrnl. Agric. Res. 35 782 The distribution of a supernumerary chromosome to the four daughter cells has been studied and found to be erratic.
1969 W. V. Brown & E. M. Bertke Textbk. Cytol. xviii. 380/1 Supernumerary chromosomes are usually much smaller than the autosomes and for that reason have often been termed ‘fragment’ chromosomes.
2007 G. Acquaah Princ. Plant Genetics & Breeding xiii. 229/2 In some species such [as] rye, fertility is reduced by the presence of one or two supernumerary chromosomes.
3. Beyond that which is necessary, useful, or desired; superfluous, unnecessary.
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the world > relative properties > quantity > sufficient quantity, amount, or degree > excessive amount or degree > [adjective] > excessive or superfluous > superfluous or unnecessary
wastec1380
voidc1440
superfluousc1450
supererogative1538
supererogatory1549
supervacaneala1575
supervacaneousa1575
supervacuous1577
supernumerary1617
excrescent1633
expletive1656
expletory1679
supererogant1737
ripieno1781
excrescentitious1833
excrescential1849
fifth-wheel1874
1617 State Papers Earl of Melrose (1837) I. 283 The Lord Blantyre being now deceassed the senatours of your maiesties College of Justice haue sent heerwith thair most humble supplication to your maiestie to suppresse that supernumerar place.
1655 H. L'Estrange Reign King Charles 130 That he might therefore take the better notice of what was supernumerary to his own preservation.
1712 J. Addison Spectator No. 413. ¶6 Were it not to add Supernumerary Ornaments to the Universe.
1751 S. Johnson Rambler No. 126. ⁋5 Nor should it [sc. fear] be suffered to..beset life with supernumerary distresses.
a1804 J. Tobin Curfew (1807) iii. iv. 38 He was appointed the family hangman to superannuated dogs, and supernumerary kittens.
1847 T. De Quincey Spanish Mil. Nun i He had three daughters already... Supernumerary daughters were the very nuisance of Spain.
1940 H. L. Mencken Happy Days xvi. 260 There were in the cellar of every cigar-shop in town a great many supernumerary cigarmakers' boxwood boards and cutting tools, left behind by tramp workmen.
1999 J. Elliot Unexpected Light (2000) vii. 253 Extravagant supernumerary prayers.
4. Excessive in number; more numerous in relation to some other specified person or thing. Now rare.
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the world > relative properties > number > plurality > great number, numerousness > [adjective] > excessive
overmany?a1425
supernumerary1645
overnumerous1648
supernumerous1648
1645 City Alarum 1 As in naturall so in Politicke Bodies, the ready way to perfection is a frequent and impartiall view of their own abilities and defects, & looke how much these are usually Supernumerary, so much the more assiduity is required in their search.
1657 S. Purchas Theatre Flying-insects ii. ii. xxv. 314 Some Bee-Masters will be over-diligent to kill the Drones, because sometimes when they are supernumerary, they will not only pester but prejudice the hive.
1715 R. Wodrow Corr. (1843) II. 27 We shall have few Tories in. [We] hear,..the Whigs in England are vastly supernumerary.
1797 J. Erskine tr. W. A. Bachiene in Sketches & Hints Church Hist. II. xvi. 310 About the borders, especially of Guelderland, Overyssel, and Friesland, they [sc. the reformed] and the Papists are much on a par. In a few places, the last are supernumerary.
1895 T. Hardy Jude v. v. 344 Her charms and her idiosyncrasies, her supernumerary hair-coils, and her optional dimples were becoming as a tale that is told.
2007 Fortnight Mar. 15/1 One wonders whether or not he is going to turn heel on his former self and, ignoring the supernumerary jeremiads he has dispensed with over the decades, work with ex-terrorist Sinn Fein.
B. n.
1. A supernumerary person, animal, or thing; one beyond what is usual or necessary; one that is additional or extra; esp. a supernumerary official or employee.
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society > authority > office > holder of office > [noun] > supernumerary
extraordinary1671
supernumerary1723
supe1824
super1882
1639 F. B. tr. J. L. G. de Balzac Coll. Mod. Epist. IV. 206 You may consult with Vida & Eracastorius; and if they be not of the same opinion, Scaliger may be the supernumerary.
1657 N. Culpeper & W. Rand tr. J. Riolan Sure Guide i. ix. 11 And when Galen reckons the Os Sphenois amongst the bones of the Jaw, he reckons it as a Supernumerary.
1668 H. More Divine Dialogues i. ii. §11. 236 That Divine Providence in the generations of Fishes, Birds and Beasts, cast up in her account the Supernumeraries that were to be meat for the rest.
1723 Duke of Wharton True Briton No. 59. ¶13 The Under-Craft Traders, such as Tide-waiters, Tidesmen, and Supernumeraries.
1736 H. Fielding Tumble-down Dick Ded. sig. Aiii You are too great..a Manager, to keep a needless Supernumerary in your House.
1835 W. Irving Tour on Prairies ii. 14 Such of our horses as had not been tired out..we took with us as pack-horses, or supernumeraries.
1860 R. W. Emerson Wealth in Conduct of Life (London ed.) 103 The eldest son must inherit the manor; what to do with this supernumerary?
1919 M. Dillon Amer. iv. 41 He was assigned to the hostess's table with several other ‘supernumeraries’.
1958 J. K. Galbraith Affluent Society viii. 91 We have feather-bedding unions and gold-bricking workmen and slothful supernumeraries everywhere.
2006 Amer. Literary Realism 39 69 Mark Twain found that..he had introduced a character..that he had no further use for, and he actually speculated in his working notes about how to kill off the supernumerary.
2. In spec. use, applied to a person.
a. Military. An additional officer attached to a unit in an army, navy, or other force.
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society > armed hostility > warrior > soldier > leader or commander > officer according to function > [noun] > officers with other specific functions
Master of the Artillery1512
trench-master1577
supernumerary1644
trench-sergeanta1753
beach-master1874
observation officer1904
censor1914
cipher officer1915
range safety officer1942
1644 Orders Comm. Militia Middlesex (single sheet) The supernumeraries that shall arise within the limits of each Company, being received, or appointed to find, or weare Armes, shall be in protection, and under the same Command.
1697 R. Coke Detect. Court & State Eng. (rev. ed.) iii. ii. 387 Supernumeraries of the cashier'd Armies commanded by Essex, Manchester, Waller, Massey, &c.
1754 W. Faucitt tr. Regulations Prussian Infantry vi. i. 123 If any company therefore should have more than eight men sick, it must borrow as many as are wanting from the supernumeraries belonging to another.
1796 Instr. & Regulations Cavalry 49 Each rank in single file (the rear supernumeraries still on the flank).
1811 Gen. Regulations & Orders Army 109 For the purpose of Instruction, young Officers may be put on Duty as Supernumeraries with senior Officers.
1896 J. Anderson Town & City of Waterbury II. ix. 139 A chief, a lieutenant, a sergeant, eighteen patrolmen and sixteen supernumeraries.
1931 Naval Reserve Regulations (U.S. Navy Dept.) 74 General-service officers may be associated with divisions, battalions, and squadrons as supernumeraries for the purpose of bringing the reserve crews or squadrons to full strength.
1999 C. Thomas Typhoon & Tempest Aces World War 2 v. 64 While still flying as a supernumerary with No 274 Sqn., he spotted a Typhoon formation well below him under attack.
b. A sailor, crew member, or other person on board a ship considered as additional to the usual or regular number of crew.
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society > travel > travel by water > one who travels by water or sea > sailor > [noun] > crew > supernumerary
supernumerary1666
super1866
1666 S. Pepys Diary 23 July (1972) VII. 215 16 ships..certainly might have been manned, and they been serviceable in the fight, and yet the fleet well-manned, according to the excess of supernumeraries, which we hear they have.
1731 Regulations & Instr. relating to His Majesty's Service at Sea (Royal Navy) iii. 125 He is not to victual any Supernumeraries, but by Warrant in Writing from the Captain.
1758 Let. to Mayor wherein Discouragem. of Seamen are Examined 11 The..Practice of bearing Men upon the Books of his Majesty's Ships..as Supernumeraries; under which Denomination they are intitled to Victuals only..and not to Wages.
1833 M. Scott Tom Cringle's Log II. iv. 142 The whole crew, with our black supernumeraries.
1895 W. M. Ramsey St. Paul Traveller xiv. 332 The passengers and supernumeraries..threw overboard whatever moveables they found.
1914 J. London Mutiny of Elsinore vii. 44 The cook, the steward, and Wada were servants, not sailors, while Miss West and myself were supernumeraries.
1922 B. Malinowski Argonauts Western Pacific ix. 228 The usagelu or members of the crew, some four or five strong, are each at his post, with perhaps one supernumerary to assist at any emergency.
2002 Antioch Rev. 60 95 Eugene Gladstone O'Neill..a supernumerary on that sailing ship, came ashore in La Boca.
c. Theatre. A person outside a regular acting company who is employed to appear on stage in a non-speaking role; an extra. Cf. super n.4 1, supe n.
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society > leisure > the arts > performance arts > drama > actor > [noun] > actor playing specific type of part > with little or nothing to say
property boy1685
supernumerary1755
walking gentleman1769
walking lady1769
figurant1775
statist1807
showgirl?1836
super1838
walker-on1876
property child1885
supe1885
walk-on1923
spear-carrier1960
1755 C. Charke Narr. Life 115 A poor, beggarly Fellow, who had been sometimes Supernumerary in Drury-Lane Theatre.
1836 C. Dickens Sketches by Boz 1st Ser. I. 239 Purchased of some wretched supernumeraries, or sixth-rate actors.
1886 Academy 30 Jan. 83/2 A stage crowded with supernumeraries, flooded with strange lights.
1926 C. E. Russell J. Marlowe ii. 33 She was engaged as a supernumerary—at fifty cents a night.
1985 T. Bauman North German Opera iii. 62 The cast runs to nineteen (not including supernumeraries).
2006 A. Vaill Somewhere iv. 57/1 Jerry..was a supernumerary in all the crowd scenes.
d. In the Wesleyan Methodist church: a minister unable to perform full itinerant preaching duties but available to work in some capacity.
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society > faith > church government > member of the clergy > other clergy > [noun]
supernumerary1770
1770 J. Wesley Let. 13 Oct. (1931) V. 205 You are not a superannuated preacher, but you are a supernumerary.
1822 J. MacDonald Mem. J. Benson 437 Mr. Rankin, an old Preacher..who resided in London as a Supernumerary.
1885 Minutes Wesleyan Conf. 11 What Supernumeraries now return to the full work?
1900 Methodist Mag. & Rev. Oct. 381/1 The Rev. W. H. Findlay was elected Missionary Secretary, and succeeds Mr. Olver, who has become a supernumerary.
1998 A. L. Gomez-Jefferson In Darkness with God ix. 201 Bishop Williams observed that he himself was a supernumerary and therefore available to be called to a district in case of emergency.
3. Genetics. A supernumerary chromosome (see sense A. 2b).
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the world > life > biology > biological processes > genetic activity > genetic components > [noun] > chromosome > types of chromosome
chromoplastid1885
accessory chromosome1899
chromoplast1902
X1902
heterochromosome1904
idiochromosome1905
macrochromosome1905
allosome1906
autosome1906
monosome1906
sex chromosome1906
supernumerary1907
X chromosome1911
Y chromosome1911
univalent1912
euchromosome1914
W1917
monosome1921
tetrasome1921
trisome1921
heterosome1938
isochromosome1939
trisomic1939
metacentric1945
acrocentric1949
polycentric1953
Philadelphia chromosome1961
monocentric1979
1907 E. B. Wilson in Science 20 Dec. 871/1 16 chromosomes in the first division include ten bivalents and six univalents (two idiochromosomes and four supernumeraries).
1969 W. V. Brown & E. M. Bertke Textbk. Cytol. xviii. 381/1 A..peculiarity of supernumeraries which seems to indicate that they have genes for their own survival is preferential fertilization in corn.
2009 T. F. Stuessy Plant Taxon. (ed. 2) ii. xx. 264/1 Supernumeraries can have an effect on quantitative characters, which may result in them having a nonrandom distribution in relation to ecological factors.
Derivatives
superˈnumeraryship n. the period of time spent as a supernumerary; the position or function of a supernumerary.
ΚΠ
1850 Wesleyan-Methodist Mag. Apr. 349 The solitary years of his supernumeraryship were enlivened by correspondence.
1898 B. Gregory Side Lights 548 The second supernumeraryship of Mr. Everett.
1982 Jrnl. Social Hist. 16 10 The future conducteur was serving his ‘supernumeraryship’ at a salary of four or five hundred francs.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2012; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.n.1605