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Origin and history of extra-

extra-

word-forming element meaning "outside; beyond the scope of; in addition to what is usual or expected," in classical Latin recorded only in extraordinarius, but more used in Medieval Latin and modern formations; it represents Latin extra (adv.) "on the outside, without, except," the old fem. ablative singular of exterus "outward, outside," comparative of ex "out of" (see ex-).

Entries linking to extra-

extra

1650s as a stand-alone adjective; also used as an adverb and noun in 17c. (see extra-); modern usages — including sense of "minor performer in a play" (1777) and "special edition of a newspaper" (1793) — probably all are from shortenings of extraordinary, which in 18c. was used extensively as noun and adverb in places extra would serve today. Another old word for "actor with a non-speaking part" was supernumerary.

extra-curricular(adj.)

also extracurricular, in reference to education, "pursued in addition to the normal course of study," 1911, from extra- + curricular. As a noun, "an extra-curricular course or activity," by 1957.

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extraordinary
"being beyond or out of the common order or rule; not of the usual, customary, or regular kind," early 15c., from Latin extraordinarius "out of the common order," from extra ordinem "out of order," especially the usual order, from extra "out" (see extra-) + ordinem, accusative of
extrapolate
"make an approximate calculation by inferring unknown values from trends in the known data," 1862 (in a Harvard observatory account of the comet of 1858), from extra- + ending from interpolate. Said in early references to be a characteristic word of Sir George Airy (1801-1892), E
extravagant
late 14c., in constituciouns extravagaunt, a term in Canon Law for papal decrees not originally included or codified in the Decretals, from Medieval Latin extravagantem (nominative extravagans), present participle of extravagari "wander outside or beyond," from Latin extra "outsi
pittance
c. 1200, pitaunce, "pious donation to a religious house or order to provide extra food; the extra food provided," also "a...
Mulligan
The golf sense of "extra stroke after a poor shot" (1949) is sometimes said to be from the name of a Canadian golfer in the...1920s whose friends gave him an extra shot in gratitude for driving them over rough roads to their weekly foursome at St...
lagniappe
also lagnappe, "dividend, something extra, present or extra item given by a dealer to a customer to encourage patronage,"...
bonus
"money or other benefit given as a premium or extra pay to reward or encourage work," 1773, a phrase in "Stock Exchange Latin...Specifically as "extra dividend paid to shareholders from surplus profits" from 1808....
constipation
c. 1400, "costiveness, bowel condition in which evacuations are obstructed or difficult" (more fully, constipacioun of þe wombe), from Late Latin constipationem (nominative constipatio), noun of state from past-participle stem of Latin constipare "to press or crowd together," fro
poise
early 15c., pois, "weight, quality of being heavy," later "significance, importance" (mid-15c.), from Old French pois "weight, balance, consideration" (12c., Modern French poids, with -d- added 16c. on supposed derivation from Latin pondus "weight"), from Medieval Latin pesum "we
doubt
c. 1200, douten, duten, "to dread, fear, be afraid" (a sense now obsolete), from Old French doter "doubt, be doubtful; be afraid," from Latin dubitare "to doubt, question, hesitate, waver in opinion" (related to dubius "uncertain"), from duo "two" (from PIE root *dwo- "two"), wit

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