Obsolescent
/ˌɒb.səˈlɛs.ənt/noun
Becoming outdated or falling into disuse.
Did you know?Obsolescent comes from Latin obsolescere, meaning “to grow old” or “fall into disuse,” giving the word a quiet image of cultural extinction rather than simple replacement.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*selh₁-
“To be accustomed or accustomed to something; the reconstructed root behind Latin solēre.”
Classical Latin
Latin
solēre
“To be accustomed, be wont, or be usual.”
Classical Latin
Latin
obsolēscere
“To become worn out, fall into disuse, or grow old; formed with ob- and solēscere.”
Late Latin
Latin
obsolēscēns
“Becoming obsolete or falling out of use; the present participle of obsolēscere.”
17th Century
English
obsolescent
“Becoming obsolete or passing out of use.”
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