excrescent

American  

[ik-skres-uhnt] / ɪkˈskrɛs ənt /

adjective

1. growing abnormally out of something else; superfluous.

2. Phonetics. (of a speech sound) inserted or added as a result of articulatory interaction or impetus, as the t- sound in sense (sents) or against (from Middle Englishageynes ), without grammatical or historical justification; intrusive; parasitic.

---

excrescent British  

/ ɪkˈskrɛsənt /

adjective

1. denoting, relating to, or resembling an abnormal outgrowth

2. uselessly added; not essential; superfluous

3. denoting or relating to a speech sound or letter inserted into a word without etymological justification, such as the b in nimble

---

Other Word Forms

• excrescently adverb
• superexcrescent adjective
• superexcrescently adverb
• unexcrescent adjective
• unexcrescently adverb

Etymology

Origin of excrescent

1600–10; < Latin excrēscent- (stem of excrēscēns ), present participle of excrēscere to grow out. See ex- ¹, crescent

Example Sentences

However, from a recessed area at the back its narrow casements and excrescent stairways are yet to be seen.

From Nooks and Corners of the New England Coast by Drake, Samuel Adams

Could I prune away certain excrescent minor Whistlers? those bits of ivory cutting from old Italy and Japan? those tarnished Tuscan panels?—in truth, I could and would not.

From The Collectors by Mather, Frank Jewett

The echinopses were mere excrescent red-haired growths that made one think of huge insects rolled into balls.

From Abbe Mouret's Transgression by Zola, Émile

Our word has excrescent l, cp. chalmer, not uncommon. 46Gyrth, sb. a sanctuary, protection.

From Scandinavian influence on Southern Lowland Scotch by Flom, George Tobias

Injuries so compound confounded the Captain, who sorrowed to see a creature so charming, at once deformed by a crooked back and an excrescent shoulder.'

From The Works of Lord Byron. Vol. 5 Poetry by Coleridge, Ernest Hartley