Supererogatory

Something that’s “supererogatory” (soo-pur-ih-ROG-uh-tor-ee) – from the Latin for “to spend over and above” – is unnecessary, going beyond what is required or expected.

Example (as used by Patrick Dooley in The Humanist): “As a result, [Stephen] Crane’s moral reflections range from the pre-ethical (duties toward animals) to the properly ethical (conduct toward humans in ordinary situations) to the optional and supererogatory (heroic actions above and beyond ethical obligation).”

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