LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
adjectivefirst/second-declension adjective

superfluus

superfluus (feminine superflua, neuter superfluum, adverb superfluō)
Classical[sʊˈpɛr.fɫu.ʊs]Ecclesiastical[suˈpɛr.flu.us]
superflua sg. nom. f.; pl. nom. n.; pl. acc. n.; sg. abl. f.; sg. voc. f.; pl. voc. n.

Meaning

  1. adjectiverunning over, overflowing
  2. adjectivefigurativelysuperfluous, unnecessary
  3. adjectivefigurativelythat is left over, remaining
  4. adjectiveabundant
    Superflui sunt, quorum partes simul ductae plenitudinem suam excedunt, ut puta duodenarius. Habet enim partes quinque: duodecimam, quod est unum; sextam, quod duo; quartam, quod tria; tertiam, quod quattuor; dimidiam, quod sex. Unum enim et duo, et tria, et quattuor, et sex simul ducta XVI faciunt et longe a duodenario excedunt: sic et alii similes plurimi, ut duodevicesimus, et multi tales.Abundant numbers are those numbers whose factors added together produce a greater amount than the number itself, for instance twelve. It has five partitions: a twelfth part, which is one; a sixth, which is two; a fourth, which is three; a third, which is four; and a half part, which is six. One, two, three, four, and six added make 16 which greatly exceeds twelve: so likewise are many similar numbers, like eighteen, and many others.Isidore of Seville, Etymologies 3.5.9

Declension

singular
formmasculinefeminineneuter
nominativesuperfluussuperfluasuperfluum
genitivesuperfluīsuperfluaesuperfluī
dativesuperfluōsuperfluaesuperfluō
accusativesuperfluumsuperfluamsuperfluum
ablativesuperfluōsuperfluāsuperfluō
vocativesuperfluesuperfluasuperfluum
plural
formmasculinefeminineneuter
nominativesuperfluīsuperfluaesuperflua
genitivesuperfluōrumsuperfluārumsuperfluōrum
dativesuperfluīssuperfluīssuperfluīs
accusativesuperfluōssuperfluāssuperflua
ablativesuperfluīssuperfluīssuperfluīs
vocativesuperfluīsuperfluaesuperflua

sŭperflŭus, a, um, adj. superfluo,
I. running over, overflowing (post-Aug.). *
I. Lit.: flumina campis, Plin. Pan. 82, 5. —
II. Trop.
A. Superfluous, unnecessary: invenissent forsitan necessaria, nisi et superflua quaesissent, Sen. Ep. 45, 4; Mamert. Grat. Act. ad Jul. 30: leges, Eutr. 10, 8: cura, Vulg. Eccl. 2, 26: superfluum et vanum orare pro mortuis, id. 2 Macc. 12, 44: multa superflua legisse memini, Vop. Aur. 5: species, Capitol. Ant. 8, 7.—
B. That is left over, remaining: fructus superfluos restituere, Dig. 36, 1, 58, § 7: bonorum superfluum restituere, ib. 36, 1, 58, § 1.—Plur. subst.: sŭperflŭa, ōrum, n.: corporis, i. e. excrements, Cael. Aur. Tard. 5, 4, 67.— Adv., superfluously. ( α ) Form sŭper-flŭē, Mart. Cap. 3, § 310; Imp. Hon. ad Symm. Ep. 10, 72 med.; Aug. Gen. adv. Manich. 2, 7; Hier. Ep. 27, 1. —
(b). sŭper-flŭō, Cod. Just. 5, 51, 6; 7, 34, 2; Aug. Ep. 28.

Origins

From superfluō (“to be superfluous”) + -us.

Descendants
  • Catalansuperflu
  • Englishsuperfluous
  • Frenchsuperflu
  • Italiansuperfluo
  • Portuguesesupérfluo
  • Spanishsuperfluo
  • Asturiansuperfluu
  • Galiciansuperfluo

Quick answers

What does superfluus mean in Latin?
superfluus, a adjective, means “running over, overflowing; superfluous, unnecessary; that is left over, remaining”.
How do you pronounce superfluus?
In classical Latin, [sʊˈpɛr.fɫu.ʊs]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [suˈpɛr.flu.us].