Definitions for: Supernumerary


[n] a minor actor in crowd scenes
[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"



Webster (1913) Definition: Su`per*nu"mer*a*ry, a. [L. supernumerarius: cf.
OF. supernum['e]raire, F. surnum['e]raire. See Super-, and
Numerary, Number.]
1. Exceeding the number stated or prescribed; as, a
supernumerary officer in a regiment.

2. Exceeding a necessary, usual, or required number or
quality; superfluous; as, supernumerary addresses;
supernumerary expense. --Addison.


Su`per*nu"mer*a*ry, n.; pl. Supernumeraries.
1. A person or thing beyond the number stated.

2. A person or thing beyond what is necessary or usual;
especially, a person employed not for regular service, but
only to fill the place of another in case of need;
specifically, in theaters, a person who is not a regular
actor, but is employed to appear in a stage spectacle.

Synonyms: excess, extra, extra, redundant, spare, spear carrier, supererogatory, superfluous, surplus, unnecessary, unneeded

See Also: actor, histrion, player, role player, thespian

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