excess
Meaning
An amount of something that is more than necessary, permitted, or desirable.
Lack of moderation, especially in eating or drinking.
Exceeding a prescribed or desirable limit.
Structure
Usage
The charity collected an excess of donations after the disaster.
He was cautioned by the doctor for his excess in drinking.
The airline charges a fee for excess baggage.
Etymology
The word 'excess' originates from the Latin 'excessus', a noun derived from the verb 'excedere', meaning 'to go out, go beyond, or surpass'. This verb itself is a compound of 'ex-' ('out') and 'cedere' ('to go'). The core concept is one of movement beyond a boundary or limit. Over time, this literal sense of 'going out' evolved into the abstract meanings of surpassing a norm, whether referring to an overabundant quantity or a lack of restraint in behavior.
Analysis
The prefix 'ex-' is from Latin, meaning 'out, out of, thoroughly'. The root 'cess' is from Latin 'cedere', meaning 'to go, yield, withdraw'.