excrescent
growing abnormally out of something else; superfluous.
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 English ageynes), without grammatical or historical justification; intrusive; parasitic.
Origin of excrescent
1Other words from excrescent
- ex·cres·cent·ly, adverb
- su·per·ex·cres·cent, adjective
- su·per·ex·cres·cent·ly, adverb
- un·ex·cres·cent, adjective
- un·ex·cres·cent·ly, adverb
Words Nearby excrescent
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use excrescent in a sentence
It was a prodigious white fang excrescent from the jaw of the world.
Mount Everest the Reconnaissance, 1921 | Charles Kenneth Howard-BuryThe insertion of excrescent p occurs after m in other words in Chaucer; as in solempne, dampne.
Chaucer's Works, Volume 6 (of 7) -- Introduction, Glossary, and Indexes | Geoffrey ChaucerRound and about the tent and on its excrescent flooring were heaped our boxes, otherwise the wind would have blown it over.
Through the Heart of Patagonia | H. Hesketh PrichardAn excrescent b, as in chimbley and fambly, seems to be native.
The American Language | Henry L. MenckenSkeat explains this form as fallen with an excrescent d, due to Scandinavian influence, citing also Bk.
The Bruce | John Barbour
British Dictionary definitions for excrescent
/ (ɪkˈskrɛsənt) /
denoting, relating to, or resembling an abnormal outgrowth
uselessly added; not essential; superfluous
denoting or relating to a speech sound or letter inserted into a word without etymological justification, such as the b in nimble
Origin of excrescent
1Derived forms of excrescent
- excrescently, adverb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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