Nadmerný

Nadměrný (from the Czech root nad- 'over-' and meat 'to be') is an adjective meaning "excessive" or "superfluous". It is used to describe quantities, effort, or influence that exceeds a necessary or reasonable amount. The word is closely related to the English term "excessive" and appears in many contexts where a balance between necessity and surplus must be considered.

In Czech grammar, nadměrný declines like a typical masculine adjective with its feminine, neuter, and plural forms (nadměrná, nadměrné, nadměrné). It can be used predicatively (e.g., „Toto množství je nadměrné“) and attributively before nouns (e.g., „nadměrná zátěž“). The adjective is also adapted into masculine animate and inanimate forms in formal speech.

The concept of nadměrný is central in legal, economic, and environmental discussions. In Czech law, "nadměrná" is used to describe actions or measures that exceed what is legally permissible, such as “nadměrná trestná sankce” (an excessive penalty). In economics, nadměrná nabídka refers to an oversupply that may depress prices. Environmental policy often discusses nadměrná spotřeba (excessive consumption) and the need for sustainability.

Common collocations include “nadměrná míra” (excessive degree), “nadměrná ztráta” (excess loss), and “nadměrné riziko” (excess risk). The word is often paired with negative adjectives like „neškodná“ (harmless) or „škodlivá“ (harmful) to emphasize the detrimental effect of excess.

Related concepts in Czech and Slovak include „přehnaný“, „přiměřený“, and „vysoká“ (high), which contrast emphasis on level versus boundary. The study of nadměrný overlaps with disciplines such as risk assessment, behavioral economics, and public policy, where determining the threshold between adequacy and excess is crucial for decision making.