† superflueadj.n.adv.

Etymology: < (i) Middle French superflu (French superflu ) excessive (13th cent. in Old French), designating proud flesh (1314 in a medical context in chair superflue ), useless, unnecessary (second half of the 14th cent.; the sense ‘abundant beyond what is needed’ is not paralleled in French until later: 1530 in Palsgrave), and its etymon (ii) classical Latin superfluus surplus to requirement, remaining in excess after something has been taken, in post-classical Latin also excessive, useless, unnecessary (Vulgate), copious, abundant (3rd cent.), designating a number exceeded by the sum of its aliquot parts (from 8th cent. in British sources), designating proud flesh (1363 in Chauliac), (in music) augmented (1630) < superfluere to overflow, to be more than sufficient, to superabound, to be surplus to requirement < super- super- prefix + fluere to flow (see fluent adj.). Compare Old Occitan sobreflu , adjective (1250), Catalan superflu (14th cent. as adjective, also as noun), Spanish superfluo (early 14th cent. as adjective, also as noun), Portuguese supérfluo (15th cent. as adjective, also as noun), Italian superfluo (a1375 as adjective, end of the 15th cent. as noun). With use as noun compare classical Latin superfluum (neuter) balance, surplus. In later use as noun (in quot. 1839 at sense B.) reborrowed < French superflu (noun) something that is superfluous (1549; use as noun of superflu , adjective). In use as adverb after post-classical Latin superflue unnecessarily, uselessly (4th cent.). Compare later superfluous adj.