Emily Dickinson Lexicon

EX-CAR-NI-FI-CA-TING, ppr.

Cutting off flesh.

EX-CAR-NI-FI-CA'TION, n. [L. excarnifico, to cut in pieces, from caro, flesh.]

The act of cutting off flesh, or of depriving of flesh. Johnson.

EX-CATH'EDRA, adv. [Ex cath'edra. L.]

From the chair, or from authority.

EX'CA-VATE, v.t. [L. excavo; ex and cavo, to hollow, cavus, hollow. See Cave.]

To hollow; to cut, scoop, dig or wear out the inner part of any thing and make it hollow; as, to excavate a ball; to excavate the earth; to excavate the trunk of a tree and form a canoe.

EX'CA-VA-TED, pp.

Hollowed; made hollow.

EX'CA-VA-TING, ppr.

Making hollow.

EX-CA-VA'TION, n.

1. The set of making hollow, by cutting, wearing or scooping out the interior substance or part of a thing.
2. A hollow or a cavity formed by removing the interior substance. Many animals burrow in excavations of their own forming.

EX'CA-VA-TOR, n.

One who excavates.

EX'CE-CATE, v.t. [L. excæco.]

To make blind. [Not used.]

EX-CE-CA'TION, n.

The act of making blind. Richardson.

EX-CE'DENT, n.

Excess. [Not authorized.]

EX-CEED', v.i.

1. To go too far; to pass the proper bounds; to go over any given limit, number or measure. Forty stripes may he give him, and not exceed. Deut. xxv.
2. To bear the greater proportion; to be more or larger. Dryden. [This verb is intransitive only by ellipsis.]

EX-CEED', v.t. [L. excedo; ex and cedo, to pass.]

1. To pass or go beyond; to proceed beyond any given or supposed limit, measure or quantity, or beyond any thing else; used equally in a physical or moral sense. One piece of cloth exceeds the customary length or breadth; one man exceeds another in bulk, stature or weight; one offender exceeds another in villainy.
2. To surpass; to excel. Homer exceeded all men in epic poetry. Demosthenes and Cicero exceeded their cotemporaries in oratory. King Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom. 1 Kings x.

EX-CEED'A-BLE, a.

That may surmount or exceed. [Ill.] Sherwood.

EX-CEED'ED, pp.

Excelled; surpassed; outdone.

EX-CEED'ER, n.

One who exceeds or passes the bounds of fitness. Mountagu.

EX-CEED'ING, n.

Excess; superfluity. Smollett.

EX-CEED'ING, ppr.

1. Going beyond; surpassing; excelling; outdoing.
2. adj. Great in extent, quantity or duration; very extensive. Cities were built an exceeding space of time before the Flood. [This sense is unusual.] Ralegh.
3. adv. In a very great degree; unususlly; as, exceeding rich. The Genoese were exceeding powerful by sea. Ralegh. I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. Gen. xv.

EX-CEED'ING-LY, adv.

To a very great degree; in a degree beyond what is usual; greatly; very much. Isaac trembled exceedingly. Gen. xxvii.

EX-CEED'ING-NESS, n.

Greatness in quantity, extent or duration. [Not used.]

EX-CEL', v.i.

To have good qualities, or to perform meritorious actions, in an unusual degree; to be eminent, illustrious or distinguished. Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength. Ps. ciii. We say, to excel in mathematics; to excel in painting; to excel in heroic achievements.

EX-CEL', v.t. [L. excello, the root of which, cello, is not in use. In Ar. قَالَ kaila, signifies to lift, raise, excel; also to speak, to strike, to beat. So we use beat in the sense of surpass. See Class Gl, No. 3, and 49.]

1. To go beyond; to exceed; to surpass in good qualities or laudable deeds; to outdo. Excelling others, these were great; / Thou greater still, must these excel. Prior. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Prov. xxxi.
2. To exceed or go beyond in bad qualities or deeds.
3. To exceed; to surpass.

EX-CEL'LED, pp.

Surpassed; outdone; exceeded in good qualities or laudable achievements.

EX'CEL-LENCE, or EX'CEL-LEN-CY, a. [Fr. from L. excellentia.]

1. The state of possessing good qualities in an unusual or eminent degree; the state of excelling in any thing.
2. Any valuable quality; any thing highly laudable, meritorious or virtuous, in persons, or valuable and esteemed, in things. Purity of heart, uprightness of mind, sincerity, virtue, piety, are excellencies of character; symmetry of parts, strength and beauty are excellencies of body; an accurate knowledge of an art is an excellence in the artisan; soundness and durability are excellencies in timber; fertility, in land; elegance, in writing. In short, whatever contributes to exalt man, or to render him esteemed and happy, or to bless society, is in him an excellence.
3. Dignity; high rank in the scale of beings. Angels are beings of more excellence than men; men are beings more excellence than brutes.
4. A title of honor formerly given to kings and emperors, now given to embassadors, governors and other persons, below the rank of kings, but elevated above the common classes of men.

EX'CEL-LENT, a.

1. Being of great virtue or worth; eminent or distinguished for what is amiable, valuable or laudable; as, an excellent man or citizen; an excellent judge or magistrate.
2. Being of great value or use, applied to things; remarkable for good properties; as, excellent timber; an excellent farm; an excellent horse; excellent fruit.
3. Distinguished for superior attainments; as, an excellent artist.
4. Consummate; complete; in an ill sense. Elizabeth was an excellent hypocrite. Hume.