excess Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun a quantity much larger than is needed
nimiety; surplusage; surplus.
noun immoderation as a consequence of going beyond sufficient or permitted limits
inordinateness; excessiveness.
noun the state of being more than full
surfeit; overabundance.
noun excessive indulgence
overindulgence.
- the child was spoiled by overindulgence
adjective satellite more than is needed, desired, or required
supererogatory; extra; redundant; surplus; spare; superfluous; supernumerary.
- trying to lose excess weight
- found some extra change lying on the dresser
- yet another book on heraldry might be thought redundant
- skills made redundant by technological advance
- sleeping in the spare room
- supernumerary ornamentation
- it was supererogatory of her to gloat
- delete superfluous (or unnecessary) words
- extra ribs as well as other supernumerary internal parts
- surplus cheese distributed to the needy

OE. exces, excess, ecstasy, L. excessus a going out, loss of self-possession, fr. excedere, excessum, to go out, go beyond: cf. F. excès. See Exceed.

The state of surpassing or going beyond limits; the being of a measure beyond sufficiency, necessity, or duty; that which exceeds what is usual or prover; immoderateness; superfluity; superabundance; extravagance; as, an excess of provisions or of light.
To gild refined gold, to paint 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.
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.
The degree or amount by which one thing or number exceeds another; remainder; as, the difference between two numbers is the excess of one over the other.