Obs. [f. OF. surcreiss-, present stem of surcreistre, -croistre (mod.F. -croître), f. sur- SUR- + creistre (:—L. crēscĕre) to grow.]
1. intr. To grow greater or more numerous; to increase to excess.
1566. Drant, Wail. Hieremie, i. in Horace, etc., K j. In wealthe surcreasyng faste.
1601. Holland, Pliny, XXXIII. ii. II. 460. The companie so surcreased, that … they could not bee contained all within the chamber of Iudges.
2. To grow over.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., III. 94. If any … digge deepe holes, the earth of it selfe in a small time will surcrease without any ayde of man.
3. trans. To grow greater than; to increase beyond.
1603. Holland, Plutarch’s Mor., 175. In case these … elements … covet to have more than their just proportion,… seeking one to surcrease and over-grow another.
