supernumerary
1
8.6
A person who is present without a needed role
- noun
- /ˌsuːpərˈnjuːmərəri/
:
suplente
- In the performance, the supernumerary stood quietly at the back, adding ambiance to the scene.
Examples
-
During the meeting, I felt like a supernumerary as the main speakers discussed strategies.
-
Once established, centralized computer labs commonly employ the teacher as a kind of supernumerary, whose purpose is to turn the machines on and then get out of the way.
Academic text (1997) -
As a supernumerary in the theater, I got to watch the leads perform while adding depth to the crowd scenes.
Synonyms
adjunct
vssupernumerary
15
7.7
Not the main position, often part-time
is present without any assigned or necessary role and performs no function
Antonyms
How Essential
Surface Forms
supernumerary singular
supernumeraries plural
Morphology
Etymology
Supernumerary comes from the Latin parts super- 'above' and numerus 'number', like the English word number. So a supernumerary is someone who is extra or surplus and is present without an essential or assigned role.