excess definition

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 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)

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 another; remainder; as, the difference between two numbers is the excess of one over the other.

<geometry> 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.