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.

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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

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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

Miss Kimpsey's own parlor was excrescent with bows and draperies.

From A Daughter of To-Day by Duncan, Sara Jeannette

The Sco. word has developed an excrescent d after l.

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

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

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