excrescence

[ ik-skres-uhns ]

noun

1. an abnormal outgrowth, usually harmless, on an animal or vegetable body:

   The patient had moles, swollen red dots, and other excrescences all over the body.

2. a normal outgrowth, as hair or horns.
3. any disfiguring addition.
4. abnormal growth or increase.
5. Phonetics. the insertion or addition of a sound, usually a consonant, as a result of articulatory interaction without grammatical or historical justification, like the t-sound in prince or the p-sound in hamster.

excrescence

/ ɪkˈskrɛsəns; ˌɛkskrɪˈsɛnʃəl /

noun

1. a projection or protuberance, esp an outgrowth from an organ or part of the body

Derived Forms

• excrescential, adjective

Other Words From

• su·per·ex·cres·cence noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of excrescence¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English; from Latin excrēscentia; excrescent, -ence

Example Sentences

Third, Oregon truffles have a very short shelf life, so the ones that weren’t underwhelming people with their woodenness were often terrifying them with their unholy excrescences.

From Outside Online

Nor are these stories a mere excrescence of theology, but theology itself.

From Project Gutenberg

His cowl had half-fallen back, and made a strange excrescence on either side of his bull-neck.

From Project Gutenberg

There was a small excrescence or hut on the roof—about ten feet by six in dimensions—which formed—their residence.

From Project Gutenberg

Behind this, hiding itself as it were and almost invisible, nestled a smaller excrescence or offshoot.

From Project Gutenberg

Accordingly, the Crown has dwindled away in proportion to the unnatural and turgid growth of this excrescence on the Court.

From Project Gutenberg