different between superfluity vs obstruction

English

Etymology

superflu(ous) +? -ity, Old French superfluite, from Medieval Latin superfluitas, from Latin superfluus.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?su?.p??flu?.?.ti/

Noun

superfluity (countable and uncountable, plural superfluities)

1. The quality or state of being superfluous; overflowingness.

   Antonym: necessity

2. Something superfluous, as a luxury.

   Antonym: necessity

3. (rare) Collective noun for a group of nuns.
   • 1905, Herbert A. Evans, Highways and Byways in Oxford and the Cotswolds, Macmillan and Co, (1905), page 266:

     These probably mark the dwelling of a colony, or to speak more precisely, according to Dame Juliana Berners, a superfluity of nuns from Godstow, which nunnery had a cell there, and was patron of the living.

   • 2011, Sam Cullen, The Odd Bunnies, unnumbered page:

     Alice put Anna back on the shelf and turned up the volume on the TV, where a local news reporter was imparting a salutary tale of woe involving a superfluity of nuns who'd got into a scrape at a crab festival.

   • 2012, Beth Yarnall, Rush, Crimson Romance (2012), ?ISBN, unnumbered page:

     […] That man could charm the panties off a superfluity of nuns.”

Translations

Further reading

• superfluity at OneLook Dictionary Search

English

Etymology

From Latin obstructio (“hindrance”), from obstruo (“build against, block, stop”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?b?st??k.??n/

Noun

obstruction (countable and uncountable, plural obstructions)

1. The act of obstructing, or state of being obstructed.
2. Something which obstructs or impedes, either intentionally or unintentionally

   Synonyms: obstacle, impediment, hindrance

3. The condition of having the natural powers obstructed in their usual course; the arrest of the vital functions; death.

Synonyms

• block
• hindrance
• impedance
• roadblock
• stop
• See also Thesaurus:hindrance

Derived terms

• deobstruction

Translations

French

Etymology

From Latin obstr?cti?.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?p.st?yk.sj??/

Noun

obstruction f (plural obstructions)

1. block (something that prevents passing)
2. obstruction

Further reading

• “obstruction” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

Interlingua

Noun

obstruction (plural obstructiones)

1. obstruction