v. Also 4–6 excede, 6 exceade, -ced, 6–7 exceede. [ME. exceden, ad. F. excéder, ad. L. excēd-ĕre to go out, exceed, etc., f. ex- out + cēdĕre to go.
The trans. use, somewhat rare in Latin, is the only one preserved in the Romanic langs. In Eng. the intr. senses appear to be developed from the transitive.]
† 1. trans. To pass out of (boundaries, etc.); to transcend the limits of; to proceed beyond (a specified point). Also, rarely, to project beyond. Obs. or arch.
c. 1374. Chaucer, Boeth., V. v. 169. Wit and ymaginacioun ne mowen nat strecchen … hem self to knowynge of vniuersalite for þat þe knowyng of hem ne may exceden … þe bodyly figure.
1413. Lydg., Pilgr. Sowle, IV. xxiii. (1483), 69. That fyre … excedeth nought thyne owne subtyle persone ne in dedely bodyes this fyre hath no power.
1655–60. Stanley, Hist. Chald. Philos. (1701), 1/1. But the Philosophy of the Chaldæans, exceeded the Bounds of their Country, and diffused it self into Persia and Arabia.
1700. Pennsylv. Archives, I. 135. I am to Complain of one Capt. Barford, who has exceeded all bounds.
1712. J. James, trans. Le Blond’s Gardening, 155. Uncover the Clod, and trim the straggling Roots that exceed it. Ibid., 207. Bury them … so that they may a little exceed the Surface of the Wall on both Sides.
1774. J. Bryant, Mythol., I. p. xii. The Egyptian accounts exceed not only the times of the Deluge, but the æra of the world.
1788. T. Jefferson, Writ. (1859), II. 370. I … shall pursue the course of the Rhine as far as the roads will permit me, not exceeding Strasburg.
1862. G. C. Lewis, Astron. Ancients, 111, note. Cleomedes lays it down that the planets never exceed the zodiac.
† b. To transgress (a law). Obs.
1393. Gower, Conf., III. 284. Lust of love excedeth lawe.
1794. S. Williams, Vermont, 360. Laws respecting their increase, and multiplication, which cannot be exceeded.
c. To go beyond, do more than is warranted by (a privilege, right, commission, etc.).
1542. Hen. VIII., Declar. Scots, 195. Liberty was gyuen to the ambassadours to excede their commission.
1606. Shaks., Ant. & Cl., III. viii. 4. Do not exceede The Prescript of this Scroule.
1883. Law Rep. Q. Bench XI. 595. The defendant by uttering the words complained of exceeded his privilege as an advocate. Ibid. (1891), Wkly. Notes 72/2. The arbitrators had exceeded their jurisdiction in awarding that the applicant should pay the costs.
2. To be greater than. Const. by.
c. 1391. Chaucer, Astrol., II. § 23. Rikne how manye degrees that the first altitude of A excedeth his seconde altitude.
c. 1460. Fortescue, Abs. & Lim. Mon. (1714), 47. He may esteme what sume thay [charges] be not like to excede.
1637. Decree Star Chamb., § 27, in Milton, Areop. (Arb.), 21. Prouided, that they exceede not the number of foure.
1729. Butler, Serm., Wks. 1874, II. 15. The cares and disappointments of ambition for the most part far exceed the satisfactions of it.
1797. Bewick, Brit. Birds (1847), I. 15. The male [Merlin] scarcely exceeding the size of a Blackbird.
1821. Shelley, Epipsych., 181. If you divide pleasure and love and thought, Each part exceeds the whole.
1848. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I. 420. Boys and girls of tender age created wealth exceeding what was necessary for their own subsistence by twelve thousand pounds a year.
b. To be too great for; to surpass, overtask.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., VI. iii. 51. Such chaunces oft exceed all humaine thought.
1635. R. N., trans. Camden’s Hist. Eliz., I. 2. Such inward griefe … as did exceede all consolation.
1735. Pope, Prol. Sat., 36. To be grave, exceeds all Pow’r of face.
1765. Bp. Law, Theory of Relig., I. (ed. 5), 11, note. Perhaps it exceeds the power of human understanding to decide where mechanism ends.
3. To surpass, outdo; to be superior to. Now chiefly const. in; formerly for, of.
c. 1425. Wyntoun, Cron., V. ix. 779. A Dochter … Ðat excedyt of Bewte All þe Ladys of þat Cuntre.
c. 1500. Lancelot, 1173. O knycht … Whois manhed can al otheris to exced.
1553. Eden, Treat. New Ind. (Arb.), 22. They exceade all other men in bignesse of bodie.
1641. Wilkins, Math. Magick, I. ix. (1648), 60. This latter engine does so far exceed all other contrivances to this purpose.
1653. Walton, Angler, i. 19–20. In that Psalm … the Prophet David seems even to exceed himself.
1735. Pope, Ep. Lady, 170. She … Observes how much a Chintz exceeds Mohair.
a. 1845. Hood, Stag-eyed Lady, i. There was one [act] in pity might exceed The sack of Troy.
1850. Tennyson, In Mem., lx. Some poor girl whose heart is set On one whose rank exceeds her own.
† 4. intr. To pass the bounds of propriety; to go too far; to break out. Obs.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, III. 293. Thow excedis to that knycht Fer mayr be treuth than it is ony rycht.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 303 b. The tyrauntes began more outragyously to excede in all fury and woodnes.
1611. Bible, Job xxxvi. 9. Then hee sheweth them their worke, and their transgressions, that they haue exceeded.
1647. Ward, Simp. Cobler (ed. 4), 48. His Subjects will exceed as farre in some vitious Liberty, to abate their griefe.
1758. S. Hayward, Serm., xvii. 543. You cannot possibly exceed in your love to him.
b. To pass the limits of truth; to exaggerate.
1717. Berkeley, Tour Italy, 21 May, Wks. IV. 543. Said to contain about 4000 souls. They seem to exceed in the numbers of this town.
1815. J. W. Croker, in C. Papers (1884), I. iii. 71. I believe I exceed when I say there were 200 persons assembled.
5. To be preëminent, whether in a good or bad sense; to bear the palm; to be greater or better than, surpass others; to preponderate. † To exceed above: = sense 3.
1482. Monk of Evesham (Arb.), 56. Aboue alle thyng that may be conceyued of any mannys mynde, hyt excedeth of cruelnes and dedly tormenting.
1509. Hawes, Past. Pleas., XI. iv. Phebus above all sterres in lyght … Dothe exceede.
1593. Shaks., Lucr., 229. The guilt beeing great, the feare doth still exceede. Ibid. (1599), Much Ado, III. iv. 17. Mar. … I saw the Dutchesse of Millaines gowne that they praise so. Hero. O that exceedes they say.
1651. Hobbes, Leviath., I. xi. 48. An Emulation of who shall exceed in benefiting.
1654. Ashmole, Chym. Collect., 21. One of the Contraries exceeding destroies the rest.
1674. Dryden, State of Innocence, V. i. Justice must punish the rebellious deed; Yet punish so, as pity shall exceed.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), V. 76. Men always choose the life which exceeds in pleasure.
b. To abound, teem with.
1624. Capt. Smith, Virginia, II. 23. The river exceedeth with abundance of fish.
6. Chiefly in Cambridge use: To have more than usual at a meal; to have extra or holiday fare. Cf. EXCEEDING 2 a. Also of the ‘commons’ (food): To be in extra quantity.
c. 1590. Greene, Fr. Bacon, ix. (1630), 39. This day shall be a festiuall day with me: For I shall exceed in the highest degree.
a. 1616. Beaum. & Fl., Wit at Sev. Weapons, I. ii. Sir, these fellows may pray for you; you have made the scholar’s commons exceed to-day.
1626. Meade, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., I. 328, III. 231. Dr. Pask made his colledge exceed that night.
¶ 7. To issue, proceed. Obs. rare–1.
1608. Topsell, Serpents, 314. All the hinderance and let [to breeding], is found to exceede of cold.
