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

Derived Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of excrescent

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