a. and sb. [ad. late L. supernumerārius applied to soldiers added to a legion after it is complete, f. super numerum: see SUPER- 11 and -ARY1. Cf. obs. F. supernumeraire (mod.F. surnuméraire), It. soprannumerario, Sp., Pg. supernumerario.] A. adj.
1. That is beyond or in excess of the usual, proper, regular, stated or prescribed number or † quantity; additional, extra, left over. Now rare in the general sense.
1605. Bacon, Adv. Learn., I. i. § 1. As for that part [of theology], which seemeth supernumerarie, which is Prophecie, it is but Diuine Historie.
1640. Bp. Hall, Episc., II. iii. 96. St. Paul, the Posthumous, and Supernumerary, but no lesse glorious Apostle.
1684. Fountainhall, Decis. (1759), I. 258. Only by one vote supernumerary, they repelled the late Magistrates defences.
1694. Falle, Jersey, ii. 70. To buy up this Supernumerary Cidar, and distill it into Brandy.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 110, ¶ 2. When Night heightens the Awfulness of the Place, and pours out her supernumerary Horrors upon every thing in it.
1712. Hearne, Collect. (O.H.S.), III. 425. Mr. Burghers’s Plate is mightily approv’d of…. I have had supernumerary Copies wrought off.
1742. Blair, Grave, 19. The sickly taper … Lets fall a supernumerary horror.
1749. [J. Mason], Numbers in Poet. Comp., 61. This Measure consists of all Trochees, with a supernumerary long Syllable at the End of the Line.
1758. Johnson, Idler, No. 29, ¶ 3. The hours which I was obliged to watch … I considered as supernumerary.
1831. Brewster, Optics, xxxii. 265. Within the primary rainbow,… and without the secondary one, there have been seen supernumerary bows.
1872. O. W. Holmes, Poet Breakf.-t., xi. 344. My supernumerary fellow-boarder, whom I would have dispensed with as a cumberer of the table, has proved a ministering angel.
in post-position or predicatively (const. to). 1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., IV. xii. 219. The intercalation of one day every fourth yeare,… or 6 houres supernumerary.
1667. Milton, P. L., X. 887. A Rib … from me drawn, Well if thrown out, as supernumerarie To my just number found.
1670. Wallis, in Rigaud, Corr. Sci. Men (1841), II. 519. I sent yesterday … a cut supernumerary to perfect what I sent you before.
b. spec. Applied to an official, officer or employee not formally belonging to the regular body or staff, but associated with it to assist in case of need or emergency. (See B. b, c.)
1624. Ld. Kpr. Williams, in Fortescue Papers (Camden), 203. To make him a supernumerarye Iudge of the Common Pleas, without fee or charge.
1683. W. Lloyd, in Lett. Lit. Men (Camden), 188. To be a supernumerary Usher in his Schoole.
1693. Luttrell, Brief Rel. (1857), III. 67. Edward Southwell, esq.,… is sworn … a supernumerary clerk to the councill.
1726. Ayliffe, Parergon, 139. In some of the said Churches there are supernumerary Canons (whom we falsely call Prebendaries).
1802. James, Milit. 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 Publ. Jrnls. (1825), 309. A youthful supernumerary compositor … in a printing establishment.
c. Bot. and Zool. Applied to structures or organs occurring (either in individuals or in types) in addition to the normal ones.
1733. G. Douglas trans. Winslow’s Anat., I. ii. § 19 (1756), I. 53. I call by the name of supernumerary Bones, several pieces found in some Skulls, chiefly between the Parietal and Occipital Bones. Ibid. The supernumerary Teeth placed out of the Rank of the rest.
1828. Stark, Elem. Nat. Hist., I. 469. Dactylopterus … volitans,… supernumerary pectoral fins very large.
1835. Lyell, Princ. Geol., III. iii. (ed. 4), II. 438. Those races of dogs which have a supernumerary toe on the hind foot.
1857. A. Gray, First Less. Bot. (1866), 26. Accessory or Supernumerary Buds.
1878. T. Bryant, Pract. Surg., I. 563. Supernumerary teeth are not infrequently found in the upper incisive region.
2. That is beyond the number needed or desired; superfluous, unnecessary. Now rare.
1640. Bp. Hall, Chr. Moder., I. vi. 54. The lavish, and supernumerary carowses of drunkennesse.
1654. H. L’Estrange, Chas. I. (1655), 130. That he might therefore take the better notice of what was supernumerary to his own preservation.
1712. Addison, Spect., No. 413, ¶ 6. Were it not to add Supernumerary Ornaments to the Universe.
1751. Johnson, Rambler, No. 126, ¶ 5. Nor should it [sc. fear] be suffered to … beset life with supernumerary distresses.
1847. De Quincey, Sp. Mil. Nun, i. He had three daughters already…. Supernumerary daughters were the very nuisance of Spain.
† 3. Exceeding or excessive in number; too or more numerous. Obs. rare.
1682. Sec. Plea Nonconf., 58. Here’s a Religious Exercise to a supernumerary Company.
1715. Wodrow Corr. (1843), II. 27. We shall have few Tories in. [We] hear,… the Whigs in England are vastly supernumerary.
B. sb. A supernumerary person or thing; one beyond the regular, usual or necessary number; an additional or extra one associated with the regular body or set; esp. a supernumerary official or employee. a. gen.
1639. R. Baker, trans. Balzac’s Lett., IV. 206. You may consult with Vida and Eracastorius; and if they be not of the same opinion, Scaliger may be the supernumerary.
1668. H. More, Div. Dial., 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.
1670. R. Coke, Disc. Trade, 36. Supernumeraries of Solicitors, Bankers, Scriveners, and Userers.
1691. in Cal. Treas. Papers (1868), I. Pref. 52. Your petr collected the duty of excise … of Endfield … and in bringing to London the money … he and the supervisor & supernumerary were sett upon neare Edmington.
1719. London & Wise, Compl. Gard., 225. When I Plant two Roots near each other … I … reject both Branches which shoot from the two opposite Ears, to avoid that Confusion of those Supernumeraries which injure the principal Stem.
1737. Fielding, Tumble-down Dick, Ded. You are too great … a Manager, to keep a needless supernumerary in your house.
1835. W. Irving, Tour Prairies, ii. Such of our horses as had not been tired out … were taken with us as pack-horses, or supernumeraries.
1860. Emerson, Cond. Life, Wealth, Wks. (Bohn), II. 358. The eldest son must inherit the manor; what to do with this supernumerary?
b. On board ship, a sailor, or one of a body of sailors, over and above the ship’s complement.
1666. Pepys, Diary, 23 July. Sixteen ships … certainly might have been manned, and they been serviceable in the fight, and yet the fleete well-manned, according to the excesse of supernumeraries, which we hear they have.
1758. M. P.’s Let. on Navy, 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, xv. The whole crew with our black supernumeraries.
c. An additional officer attached to a body of men in the army or navy for some special purpose.
1796. Instr. & Reg. Cavalry (1813), 35. Each rank in single file (the rear supernumeraries still on the flank).
1811. Regul. & Orders Army, 109. For the purpose of Instruction, young Officers may be put on Duty as Supernumeraries with senior Officers.
1849. Cobden, Speeches, 85. Supernumeraries (superintendents from admirals downwards).
1877–81. Voyle & Stevenson, Milit. Dict., Suppl. s.v., An officer shall be retained as a supernumerary on the strength of the regiment or corps:—(a) In case of a reduction in the establishment or corps…. (b) While waiting a vacancy after retiring from the Seconded List.
d. A retired Wesleyan minister.
[a. 1791. Wesley, Minutes Sev. Convers., Wks. 1830, VIII. 326. How can we provide for superannuated and supernumerary Preachers?] Ibid. (a. 1791), in Southey, Comm.-pl. Bk., Ser. II. (1849), 35. When his strength for labour fails him, he … is made a supernumerary, and derives a small assistance … from a fund to which he paid, during his health, one guinea per annum.
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?
e. Theatr. A person employed in addition to the regular company, who appears on the stage but does not speak. Colloq. abbreviated super (see SUPER sb. 3).
1836. Dickens, Sk. Boz, Brokers’ Shops. Purchased of some wretched supernumeraries or sixth-rate actors.
1851. Mayhew, Lond. Labour, I. 383/1. I … sunk to be a supernumerary for 1s. a night at one of the theatres.
1886. Frederick Wedmore, in Academy, 30 Jan., 83/2. What a relief from a stage crowded with supernumeraries, flooded with strange lights, beset with an unearthly noise!
Hence Supernumeraryship, the position of a supernumerary.
1860. Dover Express, 2 June, 3/3. His circumstances [printed circumctances] would not permit him to give up his regular employment he was now engaged in for a supernumeraryship.
1898. B. Gregory, Side Lights Confl. Meth., 548. The second supernumeraryship of Mr. Everett.
