noun , adjective
■ noun / ɪkˈses; NAmE /
1.
[ sing. , U ] excess (of sth) more than is necessary, reasonable or acceptable :
Are you suffering from an excess of stress in your life?
In an excess of enthusiasm I agreed to work late.
You can throw away any excess.
He started drinking to excess after losing his job.
The increase will not be in excess of (= more than) two per cent.
2.
[ C , U ] an amount by which sth is larger than sth else :
We cover costs up to £600 and then you pay the excess.
3.
[ C , usually sing. ] ( BrE ) ( NAmE de·duct·ible ) the part of an insurance claim that a person has to pay while the insurance company pays the rest :
There is an excess of £100 on each claim under this policy.
4.
excesses [ pl. ] extreme behaviour that is unacceptable, illegal or immoral :
We need a free press to curb government excesses.
■ adjective
/ ˈekses/ [ only before noun ] in addition to an amount that is necessary, usual or legal :
Excess food is stored as fat.
Driving with excess alcohol in the blood is a serious offence.
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : via Old French from Latin excessus , from excedere go out, surpass, from ex- out + cedere go.