n. [ 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. ] 1. 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 proper; immoderateness; superfluity; superabundance; extravagance; as, an excess of provisions or of light. [ 1913 Webster ] To gild refined gold, to paint the lily,
To throw a perfume on the violet, . . .
Is wasteful and ridiculous excess. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ] That kills me with excess of grief, this with excess of joy. Walsh. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. An undue indulgence of the appetite; transgression of proper moderation in natural gratifications; intemperance; dissipation. [ 1913 Webster ] Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess. Eph. v. 18. [ 1913 Webster ] Thy desire . . . leads to no excess
That reaches blame. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. 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. [ 1913 Webster ]
Spherical excess (Geom.), 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. [ 1913 Webster ]
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