superfluity

plural superfluities

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

   Each stores has its own storekeeper, a clerk who specializes in organizing his department so that there is not a superfluity of one article and a scarcity of another.

   1921, W. F. Grew, The Cycle Industry, London, page 32

   1 more example

   [S]he could not but contrast the splendour of the Polish retinues and their plumages and draperies, with the strait-buttoned Prussian dignitaries, all in mere soldier uniform, succinct 'blue coat, white linen gaiters,' and no superfluity even in the epaulettes and red facings.

   1858, Thomas Carlyle, “Visit to Dresden”, in History of Friedrich II. of Prussia, Called Frederick the Great, volume II, London: Chapman and Hall, […], →OCLC, book VI, page 38

   Antonyms: necessity

2. countableSomething superfluous, such as a luxury.

   As they had almost all the conveniencies of life within themselves, they seldom visited towns or cities in search of superfluity.

   1766, [Oliver Goldsmith], chapter 4, in The Vicar of Wakefield: […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), Salisbury, Wiltshire: […] B. Collins, for F[rancis] Newbery, […], →OCLC

   2 more examples

   I really doubt whether there be such a thing as a heart in the world: perhaps, after all, it is only an elegant superfluity kept for the use of poets. Certainly we have no use for it here.

   1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “Lady Marchmont to Sir Jasper Meredith. Courtiers.”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 256

   It is to be presumed that Miss Blanche Amory had more than one rose in her bouquet, and why should not the kind young creature give out of her superfluity, and make as many partners as possible happy?

   1848 November – 1850 December, William Makepeace Thackeray, chapter 46, in The History of Pendennis. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1849–1850, →OCLC

   Antonyms: necessity

3. collectivecountablerareA group of nuns.

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

   2012, Beth Yarnall, Rush, Crimson Romance, published 2012, →ISBN

   2 more examples

   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.

   1905, Herbert A. Evans, Highways and Byways in Oxford and the Cotswolds, Macmillan and Co., page 266

   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.

   2011, Sam Cullen, The Odd Bunnies, unnumbered page