superfluous
/suːˈpɜːr.flu.əs/
adjective
Origin
Latin
superfluus — overflowing, running over
Overview
Meaning Now
- Unnecessary, especially through being more than enough.
- Exceeding what is sufficient or required; surplus.
Literal older meaning
overflowing
Language path
Latin → Middle French → English
Earliest form
superfluous
Earliest period
15th century
Journey
The term carries the literal imagery of a container that is so full that its contents are spilling over the sides, which evolved into the abstract sense of anything redundant in a social, intellectual, or material context.
Evolution
- Classical Latin
superfluus
“overflowing”
From super (above/over) + fluere (to flow).
- Late Latin
superfluous
“excessive”
- Middle English
superfluous
“more than is needed”
Adopted from Old French superflue.
Connections
Word parts
super-
prefix
above, beyond
flu
root
to flow
-ous
suffix
characterized by
Related across languages
French
superflu
superfluous
Italian
superfluo
superfluous
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Related to superfluous
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.