obsolescentadj.n.
/ˌɒbsəˈlɛsnt/, U.S. /ˌɑbsəˈlɛs(ə)nt/ 1. That is becoming obsolete; going out of use or out of date. Also as n.: that which is obsolescent.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > uselessness > non-use > [adjective] > falling out of use
obsolescent1755
obsolescing1892
1755 S. Johnson Dict. Eng. Lang. at Hereout All the words compounded of here and a preposition, except hereafter, are obsolete, or obsolescent.
1817 N. Webster Let. J. Pickering in N. Amer. Rev. May 83 Words of local use, under which may be arranged obsolete words, or rather obsolescent words.
1830 N. Amer. Rev. Apr. 375 Would it not be the part of wisdom, instead of multiplying expensive constructions connected with an exploded or obsolescent system, to be beforehand, not only in introducing the new engine, but in preparing to meet and resist it?
1863 J. F. Kirk Hist. Charles the Bold II. 82 The stronghold of obsolescent opinions and decaying sects.
1894 J. Wright Appeal Eng. Dial. Dict. 3 In another generation the obsolescent will have become obsolete.
1940 S. Glasstone Text-bk. Physical Chem. x. 762 The terms cryohydrate and cryohydric point are obsolescent and will not be employed further.
1969 P. B. Jordain Condensed Computer Encycl. 223 The principal dialects today are FORTRAN II (now obsolescent) and FORTRAN IV.
1995 N.Y. Rev. Bks. 22 Dec. 61/3 The courts called Great Sessions dispensed English justice, not the obsolescent blood-tribute and tribal inheritance provisions of old.
2. Biology and Medicine. In the process of (apparent) disappearance or atrophy; imperfectly or indistinctly developed or underdeveloped; (of an organ, tissue, etc.) persisting although without function or activity.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > biology > taxonomy > taxon > [adjective] > species or sub-species > deficient in part > of part
obsolete1732
obsolescent1846
1846 J. D. Dana U.S. Exploring Exped.: Zoophytes iv. 80 The Echinopores are other examples of prominent polyps, and obsolescent striæ to the coralla.
1879 G. Allen Colour-sense iii. 26 The Law of Parsimony, whereby all unnecessary organs become gradually obsolescent.
1897 T. C. Allbutt et al. Syst. Med. II. 11 The fibroid patches..are a form of what is called retrograde or obsolescent tubercles.
1910 Amer. Naturalist 44 267 In the sauropoda, as in the ratite birds, the second trochanter is obsolescent or wholly obsolete.
1940 Amer. Midland Naturalist 24 135 Occipital carina usually forming a complete circle, but sometimes obsolescent behind fossa or proboscis.
1971 Brittonia 23 39 Leaves alternate; blades broadly lanceolate..with the midvein ending in a mucro, marginally slightly revolute with numerous obsolescent serrulations.
1997 Jrnl. Amer. Soc. Nephrol. 8 824 Biopsies showing a few globally obsolescent glomeruli or mild mesangial hypercellularity may be associated with greater difficulty in management but have been included in the broad category of MCD [= minimal change disease].
Derivatives
obsoˈlescently adv. rare in an obsolescent degree.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > biology > taxonomy > taxon > [adverb] > species or sub-species > deficient or disappearing (of part or organ)
obsoletely1810
obsolescently1846
1846 J. D. Dana U.S. Exploring Exped.: Zoophytes 320 Polyps obsolescently tentaculate.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2004; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.n.1755