excrescence
UK[ɪkˈskrɛs(ə)ns]US[ɪkˈskrɛsəns]
n
An abnormal or disfiguring outgrowth on the body or on a plant.
n
An unattractive or superfluous addition or feature.
Morpheme Breakdown
ex
cresc
ence
ex
out
cresc
grow
ence
noun suffix
Etymology
The word 'excrescence' is built from Latin components meaning "to grow out". It originates from the Latin verb excrescere, itself a compound of ex- ("out") and crescere ("to grow"). The suffix -entia was added to form the noun excrescentia, denoting the state or result of growing out. This literal sense of an abnormal outward growth was carried directly into English, where it first described physical protuberances before expanding metaphorically to describe any superfluous or disfiguring addition.
Analysis
Structure: ex (out) + cresc (grow) + ence (noun suffix)
- ex: Latin origin, a prefix meaning "out of, from, thoroughly".
- cresc: Latin origin, from the verb crescere, meaning "to grow, arise".
- ence: Latin origin, a noun-forming suffix (-entia) indicating a state, quality, or condition.
Examples
The surgeon removed the excrescence from the patient's skin.
Many considered the new concrete tower an architectural excrescence on the historic skyline.
The agreement was cluttered with legal excrescences that obscured its original intent.