ex•cres•cence |ikˈskresəns|
noun
a distinct outgrowth on a human or animal body or on a plant, esp. one that is the result of disease or abnormality.
• an unattractive or superfluous addition or feature : removing the excrescences of later interpretation.
ORIGIN late Middle English : from Latin excrescentia, from excrescere ‘grow out,’ from ex- ‘out’ + crescere ‘grow.’