'Supernumerary' definitions:
Definition of 'supernumerary'
From: WordNet
adjective
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" [syn: excess, extra, redundant, spare, supererogatory, superfluous, supernumerary, surplus]
noun
A person serving no apparent function; "reducing staff is difficult because our employees include no supernumeraries"
noun
A minor actor in crowd scenes [syn: supernumerary, spear carrier, extra]
Definition of 'Supernumerary'
From: GCIDE
- Supernumerary \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. [1913 Webster]
- 2. Exceeding a necessary, usual, or required number or quality; superfluous; as, supernumerary addresses; supernumerary expense. --Addison. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'Supernumerary'
From: GCIDE
- Supernumerary \Su`per*nu"mer*a*ry\, n.; pl. Supernumeraries.
- 1. A person or thing beyond the number stated. [1913 Webster]
- 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. [1913 Webster]