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Excess vs Superfluous - What's the difference?

excess | superfluous |

As adjectives the difference between excess and superfluous

is that excess is more than is normal, necessary or specified while superfluous is in excess of what is required or sufficient.

As a noun excess

is 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.

excess

English

Noun

(es) (Spherical excess)
  • 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.
  • * , King John , act 4, scene 2:
    • To gild refined gold, to paint the lily,
    To throw a perfume on the violet, . . .
    Is wasteful and ridiculous excess .
  • * , "Jealosy", in The Poetical Works of William Walsh (1797), page 19 (Google preview):
    • That kills me with excess' of grief, this with ' excess of joy.
  • The degree or amount by which one thing or number exceeds another; remainder.
    • The difference between two numbers is the excess of one over the other.
  • An undue indulgence of the appetite; transgression of proper moderation in natural gratifications; intemperance; dissipation.
  • * :
    • And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess .
  • * 1667 , , Paradise Lost , Book III:
    • Fair Angel, thy desire . . .
    . . . leads to no excess
    That reaches blame
  • (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.
  • (British, insurance) A condition on an insurance policy by which the insured pays for a part of the claim.

    • Synonyms

    * (qualifier) (l)

    Antonyms

    * deficiency

    Related terms

    * exceed * excessive

    Adjective

    (-)
  • More than is normal, necessary or specified.

    • Derived terms

    * excess baggage

    See also

    * usury

    External links

    * * (Webster 1913)

    superfluous

    English

    Adjective

    (-)
  • In excess of what is required or sufficient.
    • With a full rain suit, carrying an umbrella may be superfluous .

    Synonyms

    * excessive, extraneous, extra, pleonastic, supernumerary, surplus, unnecessary, extravagant

    Coordinate terms

    * gratuitous

    Related terms

    * superflux * superfluity * mellifluous