Lexical Definition

‎περισσός‎ perissós (per-is-sos') excessive ^{G:A / G:ADV}
from ‎περί‎ (in the sense of beyond)

exceeding abundantly above, more abundantly, advantage, exceedingly, very highly, beyond measure, more, superfluous, vehement(-ly).

• superabundant (in quantity) or superior (in quality)
• by implication, excessive
• adverbially (with ‎ἐκ‎) violently
• neuter (as noun) preeminence

Abbott-Smith

περισσός, -ή, -όν, [in LXX for יֶתֶר and cogn. forms;]
1. more than sufficient, over and above, abundant: Jo 10:10, II Co 9:1; c. gen. (a popular substitute for πλειών, Bl., § 11, 34), Mt 5:37; id. c. ellips. gen., Mt 5:47 (EV, more than others; but v. infr.); ἐκ περισσοῦ, Mk 6:51, Rec., T. (on ὑπὲρ ὲκ π., v.s. ὑπερεκπερισσοῦ). Compar. neut., -ότερον: Lk 12:4, 48; c. gen., Mk 12:33; adverbially (cf. περισσῶς), more abundantly, II Co 10:8, He 6:17 7:15; c. gen., π. πάντων, I Co 15:10; pleonast., μᾶλλον π., Mk 7:36.
2. out of the common, pre-eminent, superior: Mt 5:47 (Thayer, s.v., but v. supr.); τὸ π., as subst., Ro 3:1; compar., -ότερος, c. gen., Mt 11:9, Lk 7:26; c. subst., Mk 12:40, Lk 20:47, I Co 12:23, 24, II Co 2:7.†

Abbott-Smith References

Liddell-Scott-Jones

περισσός,

Attic dialect περιττός, ή, όν, (from περί, as ἔπισσαι from ἐπί, μέτασσαι from μετά) beyond the regular number or size, prodigious, δῶρα [Refs 8th c.BC+]; στάθμα, uncertain meaning, see at {ἕλκω} [Refs 5th c.BC+]

__2 out of the common, extraordinary, strange, ἔ τι περισσὸν εἰδείη if he has any signal knowledge, [Refs 6th c.BC+]; εἴ τι φρονεῖς καί τι περισσὸν ἔχεις Philisc.[Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἴδια καὶ π. [Refs 4th c.BC+]; πρᾶξις π. [Refs]; τί π. ποιεῖτ; [NT+4th c.BC+]; συνανθρωπίζον.. πάντων περισσότατον, of the dog, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; in Literature, striking, τὸ περιττόν, as a quality of οἱ τοῦ Σωκράτους λόγοι, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; τὰ σοφὰ καὶ τὰ π. refinements, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; opposed to κοινὸς καὶ δημώδης, [Refs 3rd c.AD+] (but also, elaborate, π. καὶ πεποιημένος [Refs]; in bad sense, far-fetched, [Refs 1st c.BC+]
__3 of persons, extraordinary, remarkable, especially for great learning, π. ὢν ἀνήρ [Refs 5th c.BC+]; δυστυχεῖς εἶναι τοὺς π. [Refs 4th c.BC+]: frequently with the manner added, π. κατὰ φιλοσοφίαν [Refs]; περὶ τὸν ἄλλον βίον περιττότερος somewhat extravagant or eccentric, [Refs]; τῇ φύσει π. [Refs 1st c.AD+]: with infinitive, [Refs 1st c.BC+]
__4 with genitive, περισσὸς ἄλλων πρός τι beyond others in.., [Refs 5th c.BC+]; θύσει τοῦδε περισσότερα greater things than this, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]one greater than.., [NT]
__II more than sufficient, superfluous, αἱ π. δαπάναι [Refs 5th c.BC+]; περιττὸν ἔχειν to have a surplus, [Refs]; οἱ μὲν.. περιττὰ ἔχουσιν, οἱ δὲ οὐδὲ τὰ ἀναγκαῖα.. [Refs] more than sufficient, [Refs] the reserve horse, [Refs]; π. σκηναί spare tents, [Refs] their superior numbers, [Refs]; τὸ π. the surplus, residue, Inscription cited in [same work][Refs] the advantage of the Jew, [NT]; Ἁρπυιῶν τὰ π. their leavings, [Refs 1st c.AD+]; τὸ π. τῆς ἡμέρας the remainder of the day, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; π. γράμματα supplementary provisions in a will, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
__II.2 in bad sense, superfluous, useless, οὐδέ τι τοῦ παντὸς κενεὸν πέλει οὐδὲ π. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; μόχθος π. [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II.3 excessive, extravagant, μηχανᾶσθαι περισσά commit extravagances, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; περισσὰ δρᾶν, πράσσειν, to be over-busy, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; π. φρονεῖν to be over-wise, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; μῆκος πολὺ λόγων π. [Refs]; redundant, overdone, οἱ καρτεροὶ καὶ π. λόγοι [Refs]; of dress, ἐσθὴς π. [NT+1st c.AD+]; τοῦ τὰ δέοντ᾽ ἔχειν περιττὰ μισῶ I hate extravagance in comparison with moderation, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
__II.4 of persons, over-wise, over-curious, περισσὸς καὶ φρονῶν μέγα [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ὁ πολυπράγμων καὶ π. [Refs 2nd c.BC+]; τὴν περὶ τὸ σῶμα θεραπείαν ἀκριβὴς καὶ π. [Refs 1st c.AD+]; so, of speakers, π. ἐν τοῖς λόγοις Δημοσθένης [Refs 4th c.BC+]
__II.5 as a term of praise, subtle, acute, ἀκριβὴς καὶ π. διάνοια [Refs 4th c.BC+]
__III Arith., ἀριθμὸς π. an odd, uneven number, opposed to ἄρτιος, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὸ π. καὶ τὸ ἄρτιον the nature of odd and even, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; π. χῶραι the odd places in a verse, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]
__IV περισσότεροι more in number, extra, Carnead. cited in [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
__V περιττόν, τό, ={στρύχνος μανικός, θρύον}[Refs 4th c.BC+]
__B adverb περισσῶς extraordinarily, exceedingly, θεοσεβέεες π. ἐόντες [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐπαινέσεται π. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; π. παῖδας ἐκδιδάσκεσθαι to have them educated overmuch, [Refs]; περιττοτέρως τῶν ἄλλων far above all others, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__B.2 remarkably, περισσότερον τῶν ἄλλων θάψαι τινά more sumptuously, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; περιττότατα ἔχειν to be most remarkable, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; περισσότατα ἀνθρώπων θρησκεύειν in the most singular way, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; ἡδέως καὶ π. in an uncommon manner, [Refs 1st c.BC+]; εἰπεῖν στρογγύλως καὶ π. [Refs]; ἰδίως καὶ π. [Refs 1st c.AD+]; τὰ καινῶς ἱστορούμενα καὶ π. [Refs]
__B.3 abundantly, ἐχέτω π. τῆς κρόκης [Refs 4th c.AD+]
__B.4 with a negative, οὐδὲν περισσὸν τούτων nothing more than or beyond these, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; οὐδὲν π. ἢ εἰ.. no otherwise than if.., [Refs]; περισσόν alone, furthermore, [LXX]
__B.5 τὰ περισσά in vain, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
__B.II ἐκ περιττοῦ superfluously, uselessly, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; but ὑπερέχειν ἐκ π. to be far superior, [Refs]; ἡ κάμινος ἐκαύθη ἐκ π. [LXX+2nd c.AD+]

_{LSJ Scripture Refs: Matt.5.47 ☩ Matt.11.9 ☩ Rom.3.1 ☩ 2Cor.2.7 ☩ LXX.Eccl.12.12 ☩ LXX.Dan.3.22}