excess Hear it!

excess definition

ex·cess (ek ses′, ik-; also, esp.for adj., ek′ses′)

noun

  1. action or conduct that goes beyond the usual, reasonable, or lawful limit
  2. lack of moderation; intemperance; overindulgence
  3. an amount or quantity greater than is necessary, desirable, usable, etc.; too much; superfluity
  4. the amount or degree by which one thing exceeds another; remainder; surplus

Etymology: ME & OFr exces < L excessus < pp. of excedere: see exceed

adjective

more than usual; extra; surplus excess profits

transitive verb

to do away with the position or job of the science center excessed many researchers
excess Idioms

in excess of

more than

to excess

to too great an extent or degree; too much

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.