excrescent
Americanadjective
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growing abnormally out of something else; superfluous.
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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.
adjective
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denoting, relating to, or resembling an abnormal outgrowth
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uselessly added; not essential; superfluous
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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
Etymology
Origin of excrescent
1600–10; < Latin excrēscent- (stem of excrēscēns ), present participle of excrēscere to grow out. See ex- 1, crescent
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The loaves were firsts, no common stuff, and therewithal remainders from the new moon; vegetables both radical and excrescent.
From Works of Lucian of Samosata — Volume 02 by Fowler, F. G. (Francis George)
Ex′crement, an outgrowth; Excres′cency, state of being excrescent: excrescence.—adjs.
From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 2 of 4: E-M) by Various
The mountains were rounded in outline, very massive, with excrescent peaks, one or two of the peaks on the foothills standing bare and almost perpendicular.
From The Voyages of Captain Scott : Retold from the Voyage of the Discovery and Scott's Last Expedition by Turley, Charles
The front door and the overhanging roof are just as in the time of the witches, and from a recessed area at the back, narrow casements and excrescent stairways are still to be seen.
From The Romance of Old New England Rooftrees by Crawford, Mary Caroline
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
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
