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περισσῶς

perissōs

G4057 adverb

SILEX Entry

Definition

As an adverb, περισσῶς means 'exceedingly,' 'extraordinarily,' or 'to an abundant degree.' The term is consistently used to intensify or amplify the extent of an action, quality, or state, conveying a sense of surpassing measure or exceptional abundance. It can indicate 'more than usual,' 'especially,' or 'to a great extent' depending on context.

Semantic Range

exceedingly, beyond the norm, more than usual, superabundantly, especially, exceptionally, out of measure

Root / Etymology

From the adjective περισσός ('excessive, abundant, extraordinary'), with the adverbial ending -ῶς. Closely linked to the root περί ('around, beyond') and ultimately derived from the Indo-European root *per-, indicating spatial extension or overflow.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, περισσῶς is rare but carries a similar sense of exceeding normal bounds or being out of the ordinary. In Hellenistic and Koine Greek (including the New Testament and the Septuagint), it frequently intensifies verbs and adjectives, marking unusual quantity, degree, or quality. The word regularly appears in the context of abundance (e.g., 'to live more abundantly') or excess. English translations as 'exceedingly' or 'abundantly' generally capture the overtone, but can sometimes fail to convey the emphatic or superlative force the term might express in Greek rhetoric. While not unique to biblical Greek, its theological application of divine abundance (e.g., in life, grace, mercy) is notable in the New Testament, yet this is a contextual development rather than inherent to the word itself. The term stands in contrast to μέτριος ('moderate') and is more intensive than πλεῖον/μᾶλλον ('more').

Translation Consistency

primary "exceedingly" 3 occurrences

perissōs is an adverb of degree/intensity; “exceedingly” directly captures its primary sense (beyond the norm, to a great degree) while remaining a natural, widely used English intensifier that covers ‘more than usual,’ ‘especially,’ and ‘superabundantly.’ This single adverb preserves the original force across contexts.

Alternatives (2 occurrences):
"even more abundantly" (1x) "excess" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

adverb from περισσός; superabundantly:--exceedingly, out of measure, the more.

Root Family

περισσός (perissos) — abundant, excessive, exceeding, surpassing

Root περισσ- to abound, to exceed, to surpass
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G4053 περισσός the superabundant

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G4057-02 περισσῶς perissos ADV exceedingly superabundantly exceedingly 4
G4057-01 περισσὸν perisson ADV abundantly the excess the excess 1

Occurrences in Scripture

5 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G4057-02 Matthew 27:23 περισσῶς perissos ADV the more superabundantly exceedingly
G4057-02 Mark 10:26 περισσῶς perissos ADV exceedingly superabundantly exceedingly
G4057-02 Mark 15:14 περισσῶς perissos ADV all the more superabundantly even more abundantly
G4057-01 John 10:10 περισσὸν perisson ADV abundantly the excess the excess
G4057-02 Acts 26:11 περισσῶς perissos ADV exceedingly superabundantly exceedingly
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