excrescentadj.
/ɛkˈskrɛsənt/ 1. † a. gen. That grows out. Const. from. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > biology > biological processes > development, growth, or degeneration > [adjective] > growth > that grows up or out
upstarting1581
excrescent1650
upgrowing1863
1650 J. Bulwer Anthropometamorphosis 172 The excrescent, supercrescent, and ever-crescent parts.
a1676 M. Hale Primitive Originat. Mankind (1677) iii. ii. 257 The first spontaneous production of Men..was in certain Folliculi or Bladders, excrescent from the Earth.
1779 Projects in Nat. Hist. 107/2 They will wash this excrescent substance off.
1834 R. Southey Doctor I. 101 Matter will arise contingent to the story..or excrescent from it.
b. Botany. Of a peduncle (see quot. 1857).
ΚΠ
1857 A. Henfrey Elem. Course Bot. §139 Sometimes the peduncles undergo expansion during the ripening of the seeds, so as to form part of the fruit; such an inflorescence or peduncle is called excrescent.
2. † a. Growing in excess or beyond normal limits; excessive. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > increase in quantity, amount, or degree > [adjective] > increasing or increased to excess
overgrowinga1450
excreasing1578
excrescent1657
1657 R. Tomlinson tr. J. de Renou Physical Inst. ii, in Medicinal Dispensatory sig. K3 The virtue of Chrysocal is..to cohibit excrescent flesh.
1671 R. McWard True Non-conformist 153 Their Immediate successors are against your Prelatick excrescent power.
b. Growing abnormally out of something else; constituting an excrescence; redundant, superfluous.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > growth or excrescence > [adjective]
waxinga1425
excrescent1633
sarcomatous1754
warted1802
prurient1822
paraplastic1853
neoplastic1871
dysplastic1925
the world > relative properties > quantity > sufficient quantity, amount, or degree > excessive amount or degree > [adjective] > excessive or superfluous > superfluous or unnecessary
wastec1380
voidc1440
superfluousc1450
supererogative1538
supererogatory1549
supervacaneala1575
supervacaneousa1575
supervacuous1577
supernumerary1617
excrescent1633
expletive1656
expletory1679
supererogant1737
ripieno1781
excrescentitious1833
excrescential1849
fifth-wheel1874
1633 T. Adams Comm. 2 Peter (ii. 13) 871 Wee pare off such excrescent blemishes that the body may bee perfect.
1699 J. Potter Archæologiæ Græcæ II. iv. x. 269 She from the Fore-head of a new foal'd Colt Th' excrescent Lump doth seek.
1743 A. Pope Ess. Man (new ed.) ii. 49 Expunge the whole, or lop th' excrescent parts [of Science].
1886 F. Ford in Mag. of Art Nov. 8 There is an excrescent structure of wood stuck on the wall.
3.
a. Constituting an excess over the normal quantity. Formerly, spec. in Chronology.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > reckoning of time > [adjective] > of adjustments in calculating or measuring time > extra (of hours, etc.)
excrescent1609
the world > relative properties > quantity > sufficient quantity, amount, or degree > excessive amount or degree > [adjective] > that is in excess of normal amount
excrescent1832
overcast1892
1609 P. Holland tr. Ammianus Marcellinus Rom. Hist. xxvi. i. 456 (note) The odde day which everie fourth yeare arising out of the six excrescent howers in each yeare, maketh the leape yeare.
1616 J. Selden Fortescue's De Laud. Reg. 144 The foure excrescent quadrants of a day in the Iulian yeer were & are at the end of euery foure yeers space, put into one day.
1832 T. Chalmers On Polit. Econ. vii. 220 The excrescent, or the superinduced population.
b. Grammar. Of a sound in a word: Having no etymological value, but developed by the influence of euphony.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > linguistics > study of speech sound > speech sound > [adjective] > excrescent or parasitic
excrescent1868
parasitic1870
1868 T. H. Key Philol. Ess. 204 Excrescent Consonants. I have thought it desirable to ask for one [a new grammatical term]..because the ordinary term ‘epenthesis’ seems to have been formed on a false theory.
1881 W. W. Skeat Etymol. Dict. (at cited word) Sound, The final d..is excrescent, just as in the vulgar gownd for gown.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1894; most recently modified version published online June 2021).
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adj.1609