Dictionary

surcharge en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /ˈsɜːt͡ʃɑːd͡ʒ/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈsɜɹt͡ʃɑɹd͡ʒ/ (General-American)

Etymology

From Middle French surcharge, from Old French. By surface analysis, sur- + charge. Piecewise doublet of supercharge.

Meanings

1. An addition of extra charge on the agreed, stated, or baseline price. Sometimes portrayed by a buyer as excessive and rapacious; usually portrayed by a seller as justified and necessary.
   • Our airline tickets cost twenty dollars more than we expected because we had to pay a fuel surcharge.
2. The part of the price of a subsidized good or service that is not covered by the subsidy and so must be paid by the consumer.
3. An overprint on a stamp that alters (usually raises) the original nominal value of the stamp; used especially in times of hyperinflation.
4. A painting in lighter enamel over a darker one that serves as the ground.
5. A charge that has been omitted from an account as payment of a credit to the charged party
6. A penalty for failure to exercise common prudence and skill in the performance of a fiduciary's duties.
7. (obsolete) An excessive load or burden.
   • A Numerous Nobility, cauſet Pouerty, and Inconuenience in a State: For it is a Surcharge of Expence; 1625, Francis [Bacon], “Of Nobility. XIIII.”, in The Essayes […], 3rd edition, London: […] Iohn Haviland for Hanna Barret, →OCLC, page 73:
8. (obsolete) The putting, by a commoner, of more animals on the common than he is entitled to.

Forms

Deriveds

victim surcharge

Relateds

surcharged · overcharge · surtax

Translations (42)

es sobretasa (addition of extra charge) · pt sobretaxa (addition of extra charge) · fi lisäpainama (philately: overprint) · it sovraprezzo (addition of extra charge) · es sobreprecio (addition of extra charge) · de Aufpreis (addition of extra charge) · fr surcharge (addition of extra charge) · ca sobrecàrrega (addition of extra charge) · es recargo (addition of extra charge) · id tuslah (addition of extra charge) · ca recàrrec (addition of extra charge) · da overpris (addition of extra charge) · sv påslag (addition of extra charge) · es sobreprecio (excessive price) · ru дополни́тельный сбор (addition of extra charge) · tr zam (addition of extra charge) · da overtryk (philately: overprint) · gd for-chìs (addition of extra charge) · pl dopłata (addition of extra charge) · ru пеня́ (law: penalty for failure to exercise common prudence as fiduciary) · fr majoration (addition of extra charge) · ru надпеча́тка (philately: overprint) · ru допла́та (addition of extra charge) · sv extraavgift (addition of extra charge) · ro suprataxă (addition of extra charge) · eo alpago (addition of extra charge) · cmn 附加費 /附加费 (addition of extra charge) · es sobrecarga (addition of extra charge) · es encarecimiento (addition of extra charge) · hi अधिभार (addition of extra charge) · fi lisämaksu (addition of extra charge) · it sovrapprezzo (addition of extra charge) · da overpris (excessive price) · ja サーチャージ (addition of extra charge) · es sobrecarga (philately: overprint) · sv tilläggsavgift (addition of extra charge) · sv överpris (excessive price) · it sovrapprezzo (excessive price) · bg доплащане (addition of extra charge) · es plus (addition of extra charge) · fi kuittaus (law: charge omitted from an account as payment) · fi ylihinta (excessive price)

surcharge en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /ˈsɜːt͡ʃɑːd͡ʒ/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈsɜɹt͡ʃɑɹd͡ʒ/ (General-American)

Etymology

From Middle French surcharge, from Old French. By surface analysis, sur- + charge. Piecewise doublet of supercharge.

Meanings

1. To apply a surcharge.
2. To overload; to overburden.
   • to surcharge an animal or a ship; to surcharge a cannon
   • Your head reclin’d, (as hiding grief from view,) / Droops, like a Roſe ſurcharg’d with morning Dew. 1675, John Dryden, Aureng-zebe: A Tragedy. […], London: […] T[homas] N[ewcomb] for Henry Herringman, […], published 1676, →OCLC, Act III, page 33:
   • The threat was soon fulfilled; the evening came on, prematurely darkened by clouds that seemed surcharged with a deluge. 1820, [Charles Robert Maturin], Melmoth the Wanderer: A Tale. […], volume I, Edinburgh: […] Archibald Constable and Company, and Hurst, Robinson, and Co., […], →OCLC, page 150:
   • My heauy hart I feare will breake in twaine, Surcharged with a heauie loade of thoughts. 1593, anonymous author, The Life and Death of Iacke Straw […], →OCLC, Act I:
   • The first, on January 1, 1883, was attributed to the overlay becoming surcharged with water, due to insufficient drainage, and causing a slip. 1943 March and April, “A British Avalanche Shelter”, in Railway Magazine, page 80:
3. To overstock; especially, to put more cattle into (e.g. a common) than one has a right to do, or more than the herbage will sustain.
   • Another diſturbance of common is by ſurcharging it; or putting more cattle therein than the paſture and herbage will ſuſtain, or the party hath a right to do. 1768, William Blackstone, “Of Disturbance”, in Commentaries on the Laws of England, book III (Of Private Wrongs), Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page 237:
4. To show an omission in (an account) for which credit ought to have been given.
   • The Idle multitude surcharge their laies 1599, Samuel Daniel, Musophilus:

Forms

Antonyms

discount

Deriveds

surchargeable · surchargement

Relateds

supercharge

Translations (10)

es supertasar (to apply a surcharge) · eo taksi (to apply a surcharge) · es sobretasar (to apply a surcharge) · pt sobretaxar (to apply a surcharge) · fi periä lisämaksu (to apply a surcharge) · it applicare un sovrapprezzo (to apply a surcharge) · de mit einem Aufpreis versehen (to apply a surcharge) · bg изисквам доплащане (to apply a surcharge) · es recargar (to apply a surcharge) · fi veloittaa lisämaksu (to apply a surcharge)