v. Obs. Also 6–7 -cerne. [ad. L. excern-ĕre, f. ex- out + cernĕre to sift.] = EXCRETE.
1. trans. Of animals and plants, or their organs: To separate (waste matter) from the blood or sap, preparatory to discharging from the system.
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 542. The Moss of trees is a kind of hair; for it is the juice of the tree that is Excerned.
1691. Ray, Creation (1714), 294. The Humours, excerned by Sweat and Urine, are near a-kin, if not the same.
1737. Bracken, Farriery (1763), 47. The Serum of the Blood … is excerned or separated by the Glands.
1738. D. Bayne, Gout, 101. The … dissolution of such particles … carries them through the fine strainers in order to be excerned.
absol. 1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 299. The Benefits that come of Exercise are … that it helpeth to Excerne by Sweat.
1677. Hale, Prim. Orig. Man., I. i. 30. That Soul … digests, sanguifies, carnifies, excerns.
2. To discharge, void (an excrement, secretion).
1578. Banister, Hist. Man, V. 72. That the dregges … might be duly excerned or auoyded.
1650. H. Brooke, Conserv. Health, 183. Phlegm that is excerned by the mouth.
1691. Ray, Creation (1701), 166. Such an unguent or Pap prepared, such an open vessel to excerne it into, to receive it.
