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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

SUPEREROGATION

n.[supra. ] Performance of more than duty requires. There is no such thing as works of supererogation.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

SUPEREROGATION

Su `per *er `o *ga "tion, n. Etym: [L. supererogatio a payment in addition. ]

Defn: The act of supererogating; performance of more than duty or necessity requires. Works of supererogation (R. C. Ch. ), those good deeds believed to have been performed by saints, or capable of being performed by men, over and above what is required for their own salvation.

New American Oxford Dictionary

supererogation

su per er o ga tion |ˌso͞opərˌerəˈgāSHən ˌsupərˌɛrəˈɡeɪʃən | ▶noun the performance of more work than duty requires. PHRASES works of supererogation (in the Roman Catholic Church ) actions believed to form a reserve fund of merit that can be drawn on by prayer in favor of sinners. DERIVATIVES su per e rog a to ry |-əˈrägəˌtôrē |adjective ORIGIN early 16th cent.: from late Latin supererogatio (n- ), from supererogare ‘pay in addition, ’ from super- ‘over ’ + erogare ‘pay out. ’

Oxford Dictionary

supererogation

supererogation |ˌsuːpərɛrəˈgeɪʃ (ə )n ˌsjuː -| ▶noun [ mass noun ] the performance of more work than duty requires. PHRASES works of supererogation (in the Roman Catholic Church ) actions believed to form a reserve fund of merit that can be drawn on by prayer in favour of sinners. DERIVATIVES supererogatory |-ɪˈrɒgət (ə )ri |adjective ORIGIN early 16th cent.: from late Latin supererogatio (n- ), from supererogare ‘pay in addition ’, from super- ‘over ’ + erogare ‘pay out ’.