a. and sb. [ad. late L. supplētōrius (neut. sing. as sb. = supplement), f. supplēt-: see SUPPLETE and -ORY2.]
A. adj. Supplying a deficiency; supplementary. Const. to, of. † In first quot., expletive. Now rare.
1628. Donne, Serm. Christmas Day (1640), 52. Many men have … certaine suppletory phrases, which fall often upon their tongue, and … have certaine suppletory Oathes, with which they fill up their Discourse.
1656. Bramhall, Replic., ix. 372. Let him that dare … say that it is a suppletorie Sacrifice, to supply the defects of the Sacrifice of the Cross.
1659. Fuller, App. Inj. Innoc., I. 42. A Book … which … will be suppletory of all such defects.
1673. R. Allestree, Ladies Calling, I. i. § 7. 6. Aa a suppletory ornament to the deckings of Gold & Pearl and costly Array.
1778. Johnson, 15 April, in Boswell. His hope of salvation must be founded on … obedience; and where obedience has failed, then, as suppletory to it, repentance.
1802. Paley, Nat. Theol., xiv. § 1. This double or suppletory provision [of teeth].
1818. Cruise, Digest (ed. 2), IV. 305. By suppletory or explanatory evidence.
1856. A. Butler, Hist. Anc. Philos., I. 114. The genus ‘pronoun’ does not more truly classify the words in a language that are suppletory of nouns.
1874. Stephen, New Comm. Laws Eng., V. viii. (ed. 7), III. 446. Equity … a … portion of our juridical system—distinct from and suppletory to the common law.
b. Law. Suppletory oath, an oath (given by a party in his own favor) admitted to supply a deficiency in legal evidence: cf. oath in supplement s.v. SUPPLEMENT sb.1 2 b.
1726. Ayliffe, Parergon [305]. If I can only prove the Tenor thereof by one Witness, I shall not be admitted to the Suppletory Oath through a Defect of Evidence.
1768. Blackstone, Comm., III. xxiii. 369. Abroad … a man’s own books of accounts … with the suppletory oath of the merchant, amount at all times to full proof.
1802–12. Bentham, Ration. Judic. Evid. (1827), V. 563. The suppletory oath is admitted in default of other sufficient evidence.
† B. sb. A supplement. Obs.
1649. Jer. Taylor, Gt. Exemp., II. Disc. viii. § 20. 70. The rite of confirmation is an admirable suppletory of an early Baptisme.
1672–5. Comber, Comp. Temple (1702), 475. A Suppletory for any particular omitted.
1698. Norris, Pract. Disc., IV. 86. Force must be made use of as a Suppletory to the defects of Reason. Ibid. (1707), Treat. Humility, iv. 162. I look upon grace as the suppletory of corrupt nature.
Hence † Suppletorily adv., by way of, or as a, supplement.
1622. Donne, Serm. Christmas Day (1640), 4. This personall name of the Father (It pleased the Father) is but added suppletorily by our Translators, and is not in the Originall.
