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sovrannumero

surplus

noun soh-vrahn-NOO-meh-roh Rare
Numbers & Measures Quantities

Also means

excess number

Usage Note

Sovrannumero is most commonly used in the phrase in sovrannumero ('in excess', 'over the limit'), meaning there are more people or things than allowed or needed. It is a masculine noun and is typically invariable as a complement (posti in sovrannumero). Do not confuse it with eccesso (general excess) — sovrannumero always implies a count exceeding a defined quota.

Examples

"I candidati erano in sovrannumero."

Natural Translation

The candidates were in excess numbers.

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