supererogation
pronunciation
How to pronounce supererogation in British English: UK [ˌsu:pərˌerə'geɪʃən]
How to pronounce supererogation in American English: US [ˌsupəˌerə'geɪʃən]
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- Noun:
- an effort above and beyond the call of duty
Word Origin
- supererogation (n.)
- 1520s, "performance of more than duty requires," in Catholic theology, from Late Latin supererogationem (nominative supererogatio) "a payment in addition," noun of action from past participle stem of supererogare "pay or do additionally," from Latin super "above, over" (see super-) + erogare "pay out," from ex- "out" (see ex-) + rogare "ask, request" (see rogation).
Example
- 1. Every man feels that he is bigger than his job , and he is all the time doing what theologians call " works of supererogation . "