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Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary su·per·flu·ous
\\su̇-ˈpər-flü-əs\\ adjective ETYMOLOGY Middle English, from Latin superfluus, literally, running over, from superfluere to overflow, from super- + fluere to flow — more at fluid DATE 15th century 1.
a. exceeding what is sufficient or necessary : extra
b. not needed : unnecessary 2. obsolete : marked by wastefulness : extravagant
• su·per·flu·ous·ly adverb
• su·per·flu·ous·ness noun superfluous
c.1380 (superflue), from L. superfluus "unnecessary," lit. "overflowing," from superfluere "to overflow," from super "over" (see super-) + fluere "to flow" (see fluent). Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7 superfluoussu·per·flu·ous / su:5pE:fluEs; sju:-; NAmE su:5pE:rf- / adjective more than you need or want 过剩的；过多的；多余的
SYN unnecessary :
She gave him a look that made words superfluous. 她看了他一眼,这已表明一切,无须多言了。• su·per·flu·ity / 7su:pE5flu:Eti; 7sju:-; NAmE 7su:pEr5f- / noun [U, sing.] ( formal) • su·per·flu·ous·ly adv. Oxford Collocations Dictionary for Students of English Oxford Collocations dictionary for students of Englishsuperfluous
adj. VERBS be, feel, seem | become | make sth, render sth | consider sth ADV. quite, totally, wholly She gave him a look that made words quite superfluous. | almost | rather Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged su·per·flu·ous
\süˈpərfləwəs, səˈp-, -pə̄f-, -pəif- also -fləs or ÷-fələs\ adjectiveEtymology: Middle English, from Latin superfluus running over, superfluous, from superfluere to overflow, be in excess, from super- + fluere to flow — more at fluid 1.
a. : exceeding what is sufficient, necessary, normal, or desirable : superabundant , surplus , nonessential , supererogatory
< eliminating superfluous words and replacing loose phrases with single words that express the thought — New York Times >
< armed ships allow nothing superfluous to litter up the deck — Herman Melville >
< silver plate … was the most suitable outlet for superfluous wealth … when modern facilities for investment did not exist — Edwin Benson >
b. obsolete
(1) : unpleasantly excessive
(2) : abnormal
< a blind man, or a lame, or he that hath a flat nose, or any thing superfluous — Lev 21:18 (Authorized Version) >
(3) : inordinate
< purchased at a superfluous rate — Shakespeare >
c. : exceeding the octave compass in an ecclesiastical mode 2.
a. obsolete : wasteful , extravagant
b. : doing something unnecessary, irrelevant, or frivolous
< so superfluous as to demand the time of day — Shakespeare >
• su·per·flu·ous·ly adverb • su·per·flu·ous·ness noun -es
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