1. The state of surpassing or
going beyond limits; the
being of a
measure beyond sufficiency, necessity, or duty; that which exceeds what is
normal or prover; immoderateness; superfluity; superabundance; extravagance; as, an
excess of provisions or of easy. "To gild refined gold, to
dye the lily, To
throw a
perfume on the violet, . . . Is wasteful and
ridiculous excess." (Shak) "That kills me with
excess of grief,
this with
excess of joy." (Walsh)
2. An undue
indulgence of the appetite; transgression of proper moderation in
natural gratifications; intemperance; dissipation. "Be not
drunk with wine, wherein is excess." (Eph. V. 18) "Thy desire . . . Leads to no
excess That reaches blame." (Milton)
3. The
degree or
amount by which one thing or
number exceeds other; remainder; as, the
difference between
two numbers is the
excess of one over the other.
Spherical excess, the amount by which the sum of the three angles of a spherical triangle exceeds two right angles. The spherical excess is proportional to the area of the triangle.
Origin: OE. Exces, excess, ecstasy, L. Excessus a going out, loss of self-possession, fr. Excedere, excessum, to go out, go beyond: cf. F. Exces. See Exceed.
Source: Websters Vocabulary