Supplementary

How to spell supplementary

13 letters · 4 syllables

How to pronounce supplementary

Say the part in capitals loudest.

What does supplementary mean?

1. adjectiveProvided in addition to something else to complete or enhance it.

Supplementary in a sentence

• The textbook came with a supplementary workbook for extra practice.

• She paid a supplementary charge for the heavier luggage.

Where does supplementary come from?

Language of origin: Latin

This word grows out of the Latin verb supplere, which meant 'to fill up' or 'to make complete', built from the prefix sub- in its sense of 'up from below, in addition' and the verb plere, meaning 'to fill'. From supplere came the Latin noun supplementum, 'something added to fill a gap', which English took on as 'supplement'. The adjective form 'supplementary' was assembled in English in the 1600s by attaching the Latin-derived ending -ary, 'relating to', so it describes anything that fills out or adds to a main thing. The very same plere root quietly fills 'complete', 'replenish', and 'plenty', all of which carry the idea of filling. Remembering that the heart of the word is 'supplement' helps with the spelling trap: keep the double p of sup-, the single p before the l, and the -ary ending rather than -ery.

How the word is built

• sup- (from sub-: up from below, in addition)
• ple (from plere: to fill)
• -ment (noun of result)
• -ary (relating to)