Excess \Ex*cess"\, n. [OE. exces, excess, ecstasy, L. excessus a going out, loss of self-possession, fr. excedere, excessum, to go out, go beyond: cf. F. exc[`e]s. 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 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.

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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)