[ad. L. effūs-us, pa. pple. of effundĕre to pour: see EFFUND.]
1. Poured out freely; chiefly transf. and fig. wide-spreading, overflowing, unrestrained, extravagant. Obs. or arch.
c. 1530. H. Rhodes, Bk. Nurture, in Babees Bk. (1868), 105. If lyke a chylde, it [laughing] is effuse and wanton; if lyke a woman, foolish.
1650. Bulwer, Anthropomet., viii. (1653), 141. A Nation … whose Eares are dilated to so effuse a magnitude, that they cover the rest of their bodies with them.
1655. Bp. Richardson, On O. Test., 321 (T.). Where ever the body is, yet the heart of fooles is on effuse mirth.
1742. Young, Nt. Th., IX. 1086. No wanton waste amidst effuse expence.
2. a. Bot. Of an inflorescence: Spreading loosely, especially on one side. b. Conch. Having the lips separated by a groove.
1842. Johnston, in Proc. Berw. Nat. Club, II. 31. B[ulla] catena,… aperture ampullaceous, effuse above.
1870. Hooker, Stud. Flora, 388. Iuncus glaucus … cymes effuse.
