supererogate

[ soo-per-er-uh-geyt ]

verb (used without object),su·per·er·o·gat·ed, su·per·er·o·gat·ing.
  1. to do more than duty requires.

Origin of supererogate

1
First recorded in 1730–40; from Late Latin superērogātus (past participle of superērogāre “to pay out in addition”), equivalent to super- “above, beyond” + ērogātus, past participle of ērogāre “to pay out,” equivalent to ē- “out of, from” + rog(āre) “to ask” + -ātus past participle suffix; see super-, e-1, -ate1

Other words from supererogate

  • su·per·er·o·ga·tion, noun
  • su·per·er·o·ga·tor, noun

Words Nearby supererogate

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How to use supererogate in a sentence

  • But for all that, Horse Shoe, he wa'n't going to supererogate me, without getting as good as he sent.

    Horse-Shoe Robinson | John Pendleton Kennedy
  • To supererogate is to overpay, or to do more than duty requires.

    Write It Right | Ambrose Bierce

British Dictionary definitions for supererogate

supererogate

/ (ˌsuːpərˈɛrəˌɡeɪt) /


verb
  1. (intr) obsolete to do or perform more than is required

Origin of supererogate

1
C16: from Late Latin superērogāre to spend over and above, from Latin super- + ērogāre to pay out

Derived forms of supererogate

  • supererogator, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012