What does superfluous mean?
Definitions for superfluous
sʊˈpɜr flu əssu·per·flu·ous
This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word superfluous.
Princeton's WordNet
otiose, pointless, purposeless, senseless, superfluous, wastedadjective
serving no useful purpose; having no excuse for being
"otiose lines in a play"; "advice is wasted words"; "a pointless remark"; "a life essentially purposeless"; "senseless violence"
excess, extra, redundant, spare, supererogatory, superfluous, supernumerary, surplusadjective
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"
Wiktionary
superfluousadjective
in excess of what is required or sufficient
With a full rain suit, carrying an umbrella may be superfluous.
Etymology: From superfluus, from superfluo, from super + fluo. Compare mellifluous and fluid, also from Latin. Literally corresponds to overflow, which is from Germanic, rather than Latin.
Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
Superfluousadjective
Exuberant; more than enough; unnecessary; offensive by being more than sufficient.
Etymology: super and fluo, Lat. superflu, Fr.
I think it superfluous to use any words of a subject so praised in itself as it needs no praises. Philip Sidney.
When a thing ceaseth to be available unto the end which gave it being, the continuance of it must then appear superfluous. Richard Hooker.
Our superfluous lacqueys and our peasants,
Who in unnecessary action swarm
About our squares of battle. William Shakespeare, Henry V.A proper title of a peace, and purchas’d
At a superfluous rate. William Shakespeare.As touching the ministring to the saints, it is superfluous to write. 2 Cor. ix. i.
Quintus Horatius Flaccus will our superfluous branches prune,
Give us new rules, and set our harp in tune. Wentworth Dillon.If ye know,
Why ask ye, and superfluous begin
Your message, like to end as much in vain? John Milton.
Webster Dictionary
Superfluousadjective
more than is wanted or is sufficient; rendered unnecessary by superabundance; unnecessary; useless; excessive; as, a superfluous price
Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
Superfluous
sū-pėr′flōō-us, adj. more than enough: unnecessary or useless.—n. Superflū′ity, a superfluous quantity or more than enough: state of being superfluous: superabundance.—adv. Super′fluously.—ns. Super′fluousness, superfluity; Sū′perflux (Shak.), any superfluity. [L. superfluus—super, above, fluĕre, to flow.]
Editors Contribution
superfluous
unnecessary
Submitted by cathi_b on August 31, 2020
Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of superfluous in Chaldean Numerology is: 3
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of superfluous in Pythagorean Numerology is: 2
Examples of superfluous in a Sentence
This is not superfluous, nor a lazy architects idyll, i think it's as important as the automobile was in changing the design of cities or how the printing press altered communication.
A kiss is a lovely trick designed by nature to stop speech when words become superfluous.
Human subtelty will never devise an invention more beautiful, more simple or more direct than does Nature, because in her inventions, nothing is lacking and nothing is superfluous.
Eliminate something superfluous from your life. Break a habit. Do something that makes you feel insecure.
He had not an ounce of superfluous flesh on his bones, and leanness goes a great way towards gentility.
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References
Translations for superfluous
From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary
- غير Arabic
- superfluCatalan, Valencian
- zbytečný, nadbytečnýCzech
- overflødigDanish
- überflüssigGerman
- περιττόςGreek
- superfluoSpanish
- ylenpalttinen, liiallinen, ylitsevuotavainen, tarpeetonFinnish
- superfluFrench
- iomarcachIrish
- superfluoGalician
- feleslegesHungarian
- ավելորդArmenian
- superfluoItalian
- 冗長Japanese
- supervacāneus, superforāneus, supervacuus, superfluusLatin
- overflødigNorwegian
- overtollig, overvloedig, overdadigDutch
- overflødigNorwegian Nynorsk
- nadmierny, zbyteczny, niepotrzebnyPolish
- supérfluoPortuguese
- superfluă, superfluu, de prisosRomanian
- лишний, излишнийRussian
- suvišan, сувишанSerbo-Croatian
- överflödigSwedish
- 多余Chinese
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"superfluous." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 6 May 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/superfluous>.
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