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. Againe, 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, Life Jesus (1675), 4 (W.). But her [the holy Virgin’s] Silence and Fear were her Guardians; that, to prevent excrescencies of Joy, this, of vainer complacency.
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.
1664. Power, Exp. Philos., I. 8. Nature having imp’d her [Butterfly’s] wings (for her better flight) 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, iv. Wks. 1757, 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. The seede … layde vpon Wartes, and such like excressence, or superfluous out growings, causeth them to fall away.
1599. [see ALIENATE ppl. a. 2].
1681. trans. Willis’ Rem. Med. Wks., Voc., Excrescences,… Warts or pieces of flesh.
a. 1682. Sir T. Browne, Tracts (1684), 60–1. 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.
| For 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.
