different between auxiliary vs superfluous

English

Etymology

From Latin auxili?rius (“assistant, ally”), equiv. to auxili?ris (“helping, aiding”), from auxilium (“help, aid”), from aug?re (“to increase”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /??k?s?lj??i/, /??k?s?li.??i/, /??k?s?l??i/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /???z?lj??i/, /???z?li??i/, /???z?l??i/
• (cot-caught merged) IPA^(key): /???z?lj??i/, /???z?li??i/, /???z?l??i/
• Rhymes: -?li??i
• Rhymes: -?li???i

Adjective

auxiliary (not comparable)

1. Helping; giving assistance or support.

   auxiliary troops

   Synonyms: ancillary, accessory

2. Supplementary or subsidiary.
3. Held in reserve for exceptional circumstances.
4. (nautical) Of a ship, having both sails and an engine.
5. (grammar) Relating to an auxiliary verb.

Synonyms

• (supplementary): accessory
• (having sails and engine): motorsailer

Translations

Noun

auxiliary (plural auxiliaries)

1. A person or group that acts in an auxiliary manner.
2. A sailing vessel equipped with an engine.
3. (grammar) An auxiliary verb.

   • The three traditionally recognized Non-modal Auxiliaries are the per-
     fective Auxiliary have, the progressive Auxiliary be, and the passive Auxiliary
     be. Perfective have is so-called because it marks the completion (hence, perfec-
     tion) of an action; it is followed by a VP headed by a perfective -n participle, as
     in:
     (121)    The referee has [_VP shown him the red card]

4. A marching band colorguard.

Translations

Related terms

• auction
• auctioneer
• augment
• augmentation

See also

• axillary

Further reading

• auxiliary in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• auxiliary in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

English

Etymology

From Latin superfluus (“superfluous”), from superflu? (“overflow”), from super (“above, more than, over”) + flu? (“flow”). Compare mellifluous and fluid, also from Latin. Literally corresponds to overflow, which is from Germanic, rather than Latin.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /su??p??flu.?s/, /sj??p??flu.?s/
• (US) IPA^(key): /su??p??flu.?s/

Adjective

superfluous (comparative more superfluous, superlative most superfluous)

1. In excess of what is required or sufficient.

   With a full rain suit, carrying an umbrella may be superfluous.

Synonyms

• excessive, extraneous, extra, pleonastic, supernumerary, surplus, unnecessary, extravagant

Coordinate terms

• gratuitous

Related terms

• superflux
• superfluity
• mellifluous

Translations