Surplusage definitions

Webster's 1828 Dictionary

SURPLUS'AGE, n. Surplus; as surplusage of grain or goods beyond what is wanted.
1. In law, something in the pleadings or proceedings not necessary or relevant to the case, and which may be rejected.
2. In accounts, a greater disbursement than the charge of the accountant amounteth to.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a quantity much larger than is needed [syn: excess, surplus, surplusage, nimiety]

Merriam Webster's

noun Date: 15th century 1. surplus 1a 2. a. excessive or nonessential matter b. matter introduced in legal pleading which is not necessary or relevant to the case

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Surplusage Sur"plus*age, n. [See Surplus, and cf. Superplusage.] 1. Surplus; excess; overplus; as, surplusage of grain or goods beyond what is wanted. Take what thou please of all this surplusage. --Spenser. A surplusage given to one part is paid out of a reduction from another part of the same creature. --Emerson. 2. (Law) Matter in pleading which is not necessary or relevant to the case, and which may be rejected. 3. (Accounts) A greater disbursement than the charge of the accountant amounts to. [Obs.] --Rees.

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. 1. See surplus. 2. (Law.) Irrelevant matter.