obsolescent (obsolesent)

[L. obsoles cen (t-) s, ppr. of obsolescere, fall into disuse: see obsolesce.] 1. Becoming obsolete; pa ing out of use: as, an obsolescent word or custom. All the words compounded of here and a preposition, except hereafter, are obsolete or obsolescent. Johnson, Dict., under Here out. Almost always when religion comes before us historically it is seen consecrating conceptions obsolete or obsolescent. J. R. Seeley, Nat. Religion, p. 229. 2. In entom., somewhat obsolete; imperfectly visible. =Syn. 1. Ancient, Old, Antique, etc. See ancient1. obsolete (ob'sō-lēt), a. [= F. obsolète = Sp. Pg. obsoleto = It. o oleto, But most [Orders) are very particular and obsolete in their Dre , as being the Rustic Habit of old times, without Linnen, or Ornaments of the present Age. Lister , Journey to Paris, p. 19. What makes a word obsolete more than general agreement to forbear? Johnson. The fashion seems every day growing still more obsolete . Goldsmith, The Bee, No. 5. The progre of science is so rapid that what seemed the most profound learning a few years ago may to-day be merely an exploded fallacy or an obsolete theory. J. W. Dawson, Nature and the Bible, p. 18. 2. In descriptive zoöl., indistinct; not clearly or sharply marked; applied to colors, faded, dim: as, an obsolete purple; applied to ornaments or organs, very imperfectly developed, hardly perceptible: as, obsolete str iæ, spines, ocelli. It is often employed to denote the lack or imperfect development of a character which is distinct in the opposite sex or in a kindred species or genus. = Syn. 1. Ancient , Old, Antique , etc. See ancient1 . obsolete (ob'sō-lēt), v.; pret. and pp. obsoleted, ppr. obsoleting. [L. obsoletus, pp. of obsoles cere, wear out: see obsolete, a.] I. in trans. To become obsolete; pa out of use. F. Hall. [Rare.] II.t trans . To make obsolete; render disused. Those [books] that as to authority are obsoleted . Roger North , Examen, p. 24. ( Davies .) obsoletely (ob'sō-let-li), adv . In descriptive zoöl ., in an obsolete manner; not plainly: as, obsoletely punctured, striate, etc. obsoletene (ob'sō-let-nes), n. of being obsolete or out of use. 1. The state IMG:content-1595.png:[blocks in formation] Proper lamentation on the obsoletion of Christmas gambols and pastimes. Keats , To his Brothers, Dec. 22, 1817. obsoletism (ob'sō-lēt-izm), n . [ obsolete + -ism .] A custom, fashion, word, or the like which has become obsolete or gone out of use. Does, then, the warrant of a single person validate a neoterism, or, what is scarcely distinguishable therefrom, a resuscitated obsolete ism ? F. Hall , Mod. Eng., p. 35. 4066