excrescence
(ɛkˈskrɛsəns)
Also 6 excressence.
[ad. L. excrēscentia, f. excrēscent-em: see excrescent and -ence. Cf. Fr. excrescence.]
† 1. The action of growing out or forth. Also, immoderate growth, overflow, abnormal increase.
| 1533 Bellenden Livy v. (1822) 409 Thare gudis war multiplyit be excrescence of the proffitt that thay have won. 1615 Crooke Body of Man 83 There is a double limit, beyond which the excrescence of the Haire dooth not proceede. 1649 Selden Laws Eng. i. xl. (1739) 60 This Island..became a common Sewer to the Excrescence of those Eastern peoples. 1677 Hale Prim. Orig. Man. ii. ix. 225 Our annual Winters correct the excrescence of Insects. 1752 D. Campbell in Scots Mag. (1753) July 347/1 The said excrescence of the rents of that farm would..be accounted for to them. |
† b. = efflorescence 4.
Obs.| 1718 J. Chamberlayne Relig. Philos. III. xxvii. §12 The Excrescence of Salt-Petre from old Walls made of Mortar and Stone. |
c. Of a feeling, etc.: Exuberant outburst; exuberance. Now
rare. In early use:
† Overblown pride; swagger.
| 1629 in Biblioth. Regia 28 The insolence and excrescence of the Popish pretended clergy. 1648 Milton Observ. Art. Peace Wks. (1858) 565 Of such like stuff we meet not any where with more excrescence then in his own lavish Pen. a 1667 Jer. Taylor (W.), Excrescences of joy. 1768 Johnson Pref. to Shaks. in Wks. (1787) IX. 281 The exuberant excrescence of his diction I have often lopped. 1867 A. Barry Sir C. Barry vi. 232 The excrescences of that ardent desire for perfection. |
2. Something that grows out; a natural outgrowth or appendage. Now somewhat
rare.
| 1633 T. Adams Exp. 2 Pet. ii. 20 Even these excrescences [hairs] are ornaments. 1664 Power Exp. Philos. i. 8 Nature having imp'd her [Butterfly's] wings..with these plumeous excrescences. 1782 W. F. Martyn Geog. Mag. I. 38 Nor ever cutting their hair or nails to whatever length these excrescences may grow. 1849 Ruskin Sev. Lamps vi. §15. 177 Their character of sublimity passes into excrescences;—into mane and beard as in the lion. 1871 Darwin Desc. Man II. xii. 35 These horns consist of an excrescence of bone covered with a smooth sheath. |
| fig. a 1681 Glanvill Serm. on 1 Pet. i. 22 (1681) 122 Shall we lose a Limb for an Excrescence, or..an Essential of Religion for that which is but accessary? 1755 Young Centaur Wks. 1757 IV. iv. 191 They are mere excrescences to the good man's happiness; and he has no more feeling in them than in his hair, or his nail. 1768–74 Tucker Lt. Nat. (1852) I. 42 Have we not motives for those excrescences of action? 1868 M. Pattison Academ. Org. v. 253 The professor was an excrescence on the examination system. |
3. An abnormal, morbid, or disfiguring outgrowth; a disfiguring protuberance or swelling on an animal or vegetable body.
| 1578 Lyte Dodoens i. xli. 61 Wartes, and such like excressence, or superfluous out growings. 1599 [see alienate ppl. a. 2]. 1681 tr. Willis' Rem. Med. Wks. Voc., Excrescences..warts or pieces of flesh. a 1682 Sir T. Browne Tracts 60 This is no proper Berry, but a kind of Vessicular excrescence. 1713 Cheselden Anat. i. i. (1726) 7 Bony excrescences upon the bones are frequent. 1752 Berkeley Tar-Water Wks. 1871 III. 500 Tumours, wens, and preternatural excrescences. 1807 J. E. Smith Phys. Bot. 346 Many of our Willows bear round excrescences, as large as peas, on their leaves. 1844 Dufton Deafness 97 Fungous excrescences [of the ear] may be removed either by the forceps or the knife. |
b. transf. and
fig.| a 1680 Butler Rem. (1759) I. 226 Pedantry is but..A stupified Excrescence, like a Wen, Fed by the peccant Humours of learn'd Men. 1796 Morse Amer. Geog. I. 378 A room..from the upper part of which are dependent many excrescences. 1839 Murchison Silur. Syst. i. xxxvi. 498 An irregular excrescence from the main ridge of trap. 1871 B. Taylor Faust (1875) I. 318 note, The piece [Oberon and Titania's golden wedding] can only be regarded as an excrescence. |