Superfluous

a. (sb.) Also 5–6 superfluouse, (6 -ose, Sc. -fluus, -fluis, -flowis, -flouis). [f. L. superfluus: see SUPERFLUE and -OUS.]

  1.  That exceeds what is sufficient; of which there is more than enough; excessively abundant or numerous.

1432–50.  trans. Higden (Rolls), III. 459. We ȝiffe not attendaunce to superfluous meytes, wherefore we be not seke.

1483.  Caxton, Cato, C vj b. Thou oughtest not to stryue … wyth them that ben ful of superfluous wordes.

1526.  Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 54. We … sholde … dygge our vyne wele … & cutte away the superfluous braunches.

1540–1.  Elyot, Image Gov., 72. For as muche as I suppose that ye call theym superfluouse humours, whiche are more than conuenient to the naturall proporcion and temperature of the body.

1603.  Shaks., Meas. for M., III. i. 158. I haue no superfluous leysure, my stay must be stolen out of other affaires.

c. 1655.  Milton, 1st Sonn. to Cyriack Skinner, 13. Heav’n … disapproves that care,… That with superfluous burden loads the day.

1764.  Museum Rust., IV. 22. To take off any superfluous or ill-placed shoots.

1772.  Junius Lett., lxviii. (1788), 347. I shall state … the several statutes … omitting superfluous words.

1860.  Tyndall, Glac., I. iii. 28. Divesting myself of all superfluous clothes.

1880.  Haughton, Phys. Geog., v. 224. Lake Tanganika discharges its superfluous waters into the southern branch of the Congo.

  2.  That is not needed or required; unnecessary, needless, uncalled-for.

c. 1450.  trans. De Imitatione, III. xxxi. 101. What art þou made wery wiþ superfluous cures?

1534.  More, Treat. Passion, Wks. 1281/1. To long for y^e knowledge of lesse necessarye learning, or delite in debating of sundrye superfluous problemes.

1581.  in D. Digges, Compleat Ambass. (1655), 420. Your abode there is but superfluous, and more chargeable … then serviceable.

1597.  Morley, Introd. Mus., Annot. Seeing therefore further discourse wil be superfluous. I wil heere make an ende.

1639.  Saltmarshe, Policy, 96. If you have beene neglected by any, and thought superfluous.

1736.  Butler, Anal., II. i. Wks. 1874, I. 152. To say revelation is a thing superfluous … is, I think, to talk quite wildly.

1775.  Johnson, Lett. to Mrs. Thrale, 13 July. Your anxiety about your other babies is, I hope, superfluous.

1824.  W. Irving, T. Trav., I. I. vi. 80. The forms and ceremonies of marriage began to be considered superfluous bonds.

1855.  Prescott, Philip II., II. xiv. I. 299. After the oath of allegiance he had once taken a new one seemed superfluous.

1898.  F. D. How, Bp. Walsham How, xviii. 253. This warning was not superfluous.

  absol.  1831.  Carlyle, Sart. Res., I. vii. A State of Nature, affecting by its singularity, and Old-Roman contempt of the superfluous.

  b.  Often in impers. phr. with inf.

1530.  Palsgr., 27. I thinke it but superfluous to kepe suche ordre in all other consonantes.

1559.  in Strype, Ann. Ref. (1709), I. App. x. 439. It is a superfluous thinge … to call into judgment againe matters which have ben tried.

1656.  Cowley, Misc., Pref. Some of them made when I was very young, which it is perhaps superfluous to tell the Reader.

1713.  Berkeley, Hylas & Phil., I. Wks. 1871, I. 282. It is therefore superfluous to inquire particularly concerning each of them.

1831.  Lamb, Elia, Ser. II. Elistoniana. To descant upon his merits as a Comedian would be superfluous.

1873.  Hamerton, Intell. Life, X. vii. 370. It is superfluous to recommend idleness to the unintellectual, but the intellectual too often undervalue it.

  c.  transf. Of a person: Doing more than is necessary. rare.

1596.  Shaks., 1 Hen. IV., I. ii. 12. I see no reason, why thou shouldest bee so superfluous, to demaund the time of the day.

1667.  Milton, P. L., IV. 832. If ye know, Why ask ye, and superfluous begin Your message, like to end as much in vain?

1880.  Daily News, 3 Jan., 2/2. We will not be so superfluous as to criticise this amusing drawing.

  † d.  Of no account or effect; unprofitable, vain. Obs. rare.

a. 1533.  Ld. Berners, Gold. Bk. M. Aurel. (1546), R iv. Damsels … thinketh all their tyme lost, and superfluous vnto the day of theyr mariage.

1609.  Bible (Douay), Wisd. xi. 16. Some erring did worshippe dumme serpents and superfluous beastes.

1654.  Bramhall, Just Vind., viii. (1661), 241. This challenge of infallibility diminisheth their authority, discrediteth their definitions, and maketh them to be superfluous things.

  † 3.  Exceeding what is right, desirable, normal or usual; immoderate, inordinate. Obs.

c. 1450.  Mankind, 232, in Macro Plays, 9. Be-ware of excesse! Þe superfluouse gyse I wyll þat ȝe refuse.

1533.  Gau, Richt Vay, 95. Al inordinat and superfluis desiris in meittis and drinkkis and slepinge.

1567.  Maplet, Gr. Forest, 36. His stalke or bodie … is somewhat grosse or superfluous.

1575.  in Maitl. Club Misc., I. 114. I be pompious convoy and supperflouis banketting to Margerat Denelstoun the day of hir mariage.

1611.  Bible, Lev. xxi. 18. A blind man, or a lame, or he that hath a flat nose, or any thing superfluous.

1613.  Shaks., Hen. VIII., I. i. 99. A proper Title of a Peace, and purchas’d At a superfluous rate.

  † b.  Mus. = AUGMENTED ppl. a. 2 b. Obs.

1753.  Chambers’ Cycl., Suppl., Superfluous interval, in music, is one that exceeds a true diatonic interval by a semitone minor. Thus the Superfluous second, or tone, contains a semitone minor more than a tone, or greater second.

1864.  Engel, Mus. Anc. Nat., 361. A superfluous second may, in sound at least, be taken as identical with a minor third.

1866.  [see PRIME sb.² 4 b].

  † 4.  Having, consuming or expending more than enough; superabundantly supplied; extravagant in expenditure. Const. in, with. Obs.

1535.  Coverdale, Isa. v. 11. Wo be vnto them that ryse vp early to vse them selues in dronkynnes, and yet at night are more superfluous with wyne.

1585.  T. Washington, trans. Nicholay’s Voy., III. xi. 90 b. The dressing of their meat … differeth from ours, being so superfluous, curious, and delicate,… whereas … theirs is scant, bare, and grosse.

1605.  Shaks., Lear, II. iv. 268. Our basest Beggers Are in the poorest thing superfluous.

1667.  Milton, P. L., VIII. 27. Reasoning I oft admire, How Nature wise and frugal could commit Such disproportions, with superfluous hand So many nobler Bodies to create, Greater so manifold to this one use.

1711.  J. Greenwood, Engl. Gram., 233. Our Alphabet is deficient in some respects, and superfluous in others.