excrescent

[ ik-skres-uhnt ]

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 English ageynes ), without grammatical or historical justification; intrusive; parasitic.

Other Words From

• 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of excrescent¹

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

Example Sentences

It was a prodigious white fang excrescent from the jaw of the world.

From Project Gutenberg

The insertion of excrescent p occurs after m in other words in Chaucer; as in solempne, dampne.

From Project Gutenberg

Round and about the tent and on its excrescent flooring were heaped our boxes, otherwise the wind would have blown it over.

From Project Gutenberg

An excrescent b, as in chimbley and fambly, seems to be native.

From Project Gutenberg

Skeat explains this form as fallen with an excrescent d, due to Scandinavian influence, citing also Bk.

From Project Gutenberg