superfluous
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Ph was, in a way, superfluous from the start, since f was available.
View all »Definitions (10)
American Heritage Dictionary (2)
- adjective Being beyond what is required or sufficient.
- Syntax Note Synonyms: superfluous, excess, extra, spare, supernumerary, surplus
These adjectives mean being more than is needed, desired, required, or appropriate: delete superfluous words; trying to lose excess weight; found some extra change on the dresser; sleeping in the spare room; supernumerary ornamentation; distributed surplus food to the needy.
Century Dictionary (5)
GNU Webster's 1913 (1)
WordNet (2)
Elsewhere on the web
View all » Examples
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Ph was, in a way, superfluous from the start, since f was available.
— VERBATIM: The Language Quarterly Vol VII No 4 - The accumulating facts, however, point more and more definitely toward an utterly preposterous conclusion. — First Lensman
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41122] Rich, anti-revolutionary, and vicious, "according to Robespierre, [41123]" these three traits depend on each other, and, therefore, the possession of the superfluous is an infallible sign of aristocracy, a visible mark of incivism "and, as Fouché says," a stamp of reprobation. "
— The French Revolution - Volume 3 -
Then the drill of the small infantry begins anew, but pauses again because some urchin -- who agrees with Voltaire that the superfluous is a very necessary thing -- insists on spelling "subtraction" with an _s_ too much.
— Among My Books First Series -
Perfect line, chaste ornamentation, the elimination of the superfluous was the result of the Greek idea of restraint -- self-control in all things and in all expression.
— The Art of Interior Decoration
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View all »Etymologies (3)
American Heritage Dictionary (1)
- Middle English, from Old French superflueux, from Latin superfluus, from superfluere, to overflow : super-, super- + fluere, to flow; see bhleu- in Indo-European roots.
Century Dictionary (1)
GNU Webster's 1913 (1)
WordNet
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Pronunciations
/ (so͝o-pûrˈflo͞o-əs)/
ahd pronounces "superfluous"
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American Heritage Dictionary
Dysiode pronounces "superfluous"
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Dysiode
uselessness pronounces "superfluous"
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uselessness