† exˈcuss, v. Obs.
[f. L. excuss- ppl. stem of excutĕre, f. ex- out + quatĕre to shake; the vb. had also the sense of searching a person by shaking his loose robe. Cf. sense 2.]
1. trans. To shake off, cast off, get rid of. Said with reference to things material and immaterial.
| 1607 Topsell Four-f. Beasts (1673) 239 To brush over their Horses with a little linnen instrument..whereby they excusse all dust from the beast. ― Serpents (1653) 603 Snakes with tender skin excuss'd their years enlarge. 1657 Tomlinson Renou's Disp. 164* That the exterior shell and all glumosity may be excussed. 1662 Stillingfl. Orig. Sacr. i. i. §12 They could not totally excuss the notions of a deity out of their minds. 1668 Howe Bless. Righteous (1825) 119 The holy soul's release..will excuss and shake off this drowsy sleep. |
2. To shake out the contents of anything; hence, to investigate thoroughly, discuss (a question or document); also, to get (the truth) from (a person).
| 1570 Foxe A. & M. (ed. 2) 689 If I should..take in hand your Popishe portues and..excusse euery Popishe martyr and sancte there canonised. 1577 tr. Bullinger's Decades (1592) 496 Saint Augustine doth more fully excusse and handle this argument. 1579 G. Harvey Letter-bk. (Camden) 59, I then excussid the matter. 1654 Junius (Webster 1864), To take some pains in excussing some old documents. 1726 Ayliffe Parerg. 438 To examine a Delinquent on Oath to excuss the Truth of some Crime from him. |
3. Mod. Civ. Law. [Cf. OF. escosser, escousser, ‘saisir, dépouiller’ (Godef.).] To seize, take in execution (a debtor's goods).
| 1726 Ayliffe Parerg. 272 The Person of a Man ought not by the Civil Law to be taken for a Debt, unless his Goods and Estate has been first excuss'd. 1755 in Johnson; whence in mod. Dicts. |