Supernumerary starts off with the Latin prefix super-, "above". You may have heard of someone being born with supernumerary teeth, supernumerary fingers, or supernumerary toes. A supernumerary rainbow may show up as a faint line—red, green, or purple—just touching the main colored arc. Supernumerary is also a noun: A supernumerary is usually someone in a crowd scene onstage, otherwise known as an "extra" or a "spear-carrier".
Adjective a third, supernumerary witness to the signing of the will
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
The number of companions is limited to 24, although supernumerary members do not count towards this total. Katie Campione, PEOPLE.com, 31 Dec. 2021 The number of companions is limited to 24, although supernumerary members do not count towards this total. Katie Campione, PEOPLE.com, 31 Dec. 2021 The number of companions is limited to 24, although supernumerary members do not count towards this total. Katie Campione, PEOPLE.com, 31 Dec. 2021 The number of companions is limited to 24, although supernumerary members do not count towards this total. Katie Campione, PEOPLE.com, 31 Dec. 2021 The number of companions is limited to 24, although supernumerary members do not count towards this total. Katie Campione, PEOPLE.com, 31 Dec. 2021 The number of companions is limited to 24, although supernumerary members do not count towards this total. Katie Campione, PEOPLE.com, 31 Dec. 2021 The number of companions is limited to 24, although supernumerary members do not count towards this total. Katie Campione, PEOPLE.com, 31 Dec. 2021 The number of companions is limited to 24, although supernumerary members do not count towards this total. Katie Campione, PEOPLE.com, 31 Dec. 2021
Noun
One of West Hartford’s earlier patrol officers, Martin McCue, started as a part-time supernumerary in 1929 and became a full-time officer a year later. Don Stacom, courant.com, 12 Nov. 2020 As reported by ITV News, King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and King Felipe VI of Spain are being invested as supernumerary, or Stranger Knights of the Garter by Queen Elizabeth in this year's ceremony. Amy Mackelden, Harper's BAZAAR, 17 June 2019 Aside from work and travel, Mrs. Gradet was an extra — or supernumerary — in several productions of the Baltimore Opera, along with her husband and children. Christina Tkacik, baltimoresun.com, 20 May 2018 Broken into six-hour installments spaced out over two weeks, the hallucinatory concert extravaganza is being custom tailored, with local musicians, guest artists and glittery supernumeraries brought in for the occasion. Charles Mcnulty, latimes.com, 14 Mar. 2018 History will be merciless to them, but how much fun to watch them reduced to thunderstruck supernumeraries in real time. Frank Rich, Daily Intelligencer, 13 Sep. 2017 See More
Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Late Latin supernumerarius, from Latin super- + numerus number