Middle English Dictionary Entry
excess n.
Entry Info
| Forms | excess n. |
| Etymology | OF, & L excessus. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Excess or excessiveness in number, amount, or quantity; (b) the balance or remainder of a sum or amount (after subtraction); also, the difference between a larger and a smaller number or sum, surplus or excess; egal ~, equal amount of difference; (c) excess of sale price over cost, profit; ~ pris, excessive price.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.4457 : I biede nevere as to my del Bot of the hole an halvendel; That is non excess.
- a1400 Epist.SSacerd.(Roy 17.B.17)62 : In nounbre..bothe excesse & defaute smakes vices, as clerkis saien.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)1.1585 : Nature made in hir face sprede So egally þe whyte with þe rede..Þat finally excesse was þer noon.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.3670 : Þoruȝ noon excesse of moche nor to lite.
b
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)122b/a : Embolismus is encresinge & excesse by þe whiche þe ȝere of þe sonne passiþ þe ȝere of þe mone.
- (1423) RParl.4.258b : If..the seid Maistres yeven more than accordyng to the seid ordinaunce, thanne ther seid Maistres..payng to the Kyng..the excesse.
- a1450 Treat.Music (Lnsd 763)266 : Þe whech excesse eyþer superpluz is not pars aliquota of þe lasse numbir.
- a1450 Treat.Music (Lnsd 763)268 : Whan þe ferst terme passiþe þe 2de, þan it is callid þe ferst excesse.
- c1450 Art Number.(Ashm 396)36/20 : Subtraccioun is..the fyndyng of the excesse of the more to the lasse.
- c1450 Art Number.(Ashm 396)45/21 : Progressioun is of nombre after egalle excesse fro oone or tweyne take agregacioun.
c
- (1472-5) RParl.6.156a : Such Bowes been at such excesse price.
- a1525(?1474) Cov.Leet Bk.398 : He shalbe no excesse taker more thanne of the shilling jd.
2.
Excess or excessiveness (in a certain quality or property), excessive degree; ~ slep, deep sleep; in (bi) ~, excessively; without ~, not excessively.
Associated quotations
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.335 : Þe helþe of þat lond is bycause þat þere is noȝt gret passynge and exces in hele [read: chele] noþer in hete.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)135b/a : Leuke warme, not hote ne cold in excesse.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)172a/b : In actiue qualiteez forsoþ þer owe not be excesse.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)177a/b : Berbena is an herbe fri & sic without excesse.
- ?c1450(?a1400) Wycl.Clergy HP (Lamb 551)364 : Sufficient, and in no wise fawtye in scarste or excesse þer-of.
- 1592 Chester Pl.(Add 10305)1.24 : But excesse sleepe behoves me [God] To make one this man [Adam].
3.
Intemperance in living, esp. in eating and drinking; gluttony, surfeit.
Associated quotations
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pard.(Manly-Rickert)C.514 : How manye maladies Folwen of excesse and of glotonyes.
- (?1406) Hoccl.MR (Hnt HM 111)292-304 : I was at ese weel ynow, Or excesse vn to me leef was..The feend and excesse been conuertible..Excesse of mete & drynke is glotonye..Thus may excesse reue a soule hir lyf.
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)144 : Excesse of drynke: Bibera. Excesse of etynge: Peredia.
- a1450(c1400) Wor.Serm.(Wor F.10)32/357 : Crist..vedde viue þowsund of folk with twei vissches..her i trow was but litel excesse.
- a1450 St.Editha (Fst B.3)4740 : Synne..by-cause of to gret excesse of householde.
- ?c1450 St.Cuth.(Eg 3309)1378 : He..kepid all licours fra his cors, Þe whilk myght him dronkyn make; Als othir exces he forsake.
- c1475(a1449) Lydg.Test.(Hrl 218)732 : And euery houre my passage for to dresse..to ryot or excesse.
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)12885 : The mete nat causeth the excesse, But the ffretyng gredynesse.
4.
Violent or extravagant emotion (such as love, joy, anger, despair); esp., ecstasy, rapture, elation; ~ of mind (soule). [Cp. access onset, fit.]
Associated quotations
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Ps.30.1 : The salm of Dauid for the ecces of mynde.
- (a1382) WBible(1) (Dc 369(1))Ps.30.23 : I forsothe seide in exces of my mynde [L in excessu mentis meæ], I am cast aferr fro the face of thin eȝen.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Deeds 11.5 : I syȝ in excess of my soule a visioun.
- a1425(?a1400) PCounsel.(Hrl 674)150/20 : Alle þoo þat in excesse of loue ben rauiscid abouen mynde.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)105/27 : To stande in excesse of mynde, & se þe creatour of all.
- a1500 Imit.Chr.(Dub 678)110/4 : To cleue to þe in iubilose excesses.
5.
Transgression, wrong-doing, or an instance of it.
Associated quotations
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mel.(Manly-Rickert)B.2715,2719 : Though I do a greet excesse, that is to seyn, that I venge oon outrage by another..Ye shul venge yow after the ordre of right..and nat by excesse ne by outrage.
- c1425(a1420) Lydg.TB (Aug A.4)2.7031 : Ofte it falleth a wrong is wrouȝt: For litel excesse folweþ gret reprefe.
- (1429) RParl.4.344a : In eschuyng of riotes, excesses, misgovernance and disobeisance.
- a1475 Godstow Reg.(Rwl B.408)637/23 : Diuerse transgressions, harmis, greuis & excessis..þat wer do þat time.
- c1450(?c1425) St.Christina Mirab.(Dc 114)129/47 : Leste by hir excesses þey schulde scorn þe good name of Cryste.
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)220/9 : Þi mowth..ferst spak exces of slaundere, of othys, of dyspysynges, lesynges [etc.].
Note: Needed for date in sense 1.(a).
Note: Add (provisional) form section: Also exces(se, ecces.--notes per MLL