obsolesco Latin · revision 33979

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=derivation|attested=81–43 BC, Cicero|origins=la soleō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ɔp.sɔˈɫeːs.koː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ob.soˈlɛs.ko]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''obsolēscō''' (present infinitive obsolēscere, perfect active obsolēvī, supine obsolētum); third conjugation, no passive^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|ob-|soleō|-scō|t2=to be accustomed]], an inchoative, as the OLD and the TLL take it.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL) Wiktionary divides it instead as [[m|la|obs-]] and [[m|la|olēscō]].^(Wiktionary) Caesellius, quoted by Cassiodorus, already held that the ⟨s⟩ belongs to the prefix ⟨obs⟩, as in ⟨abs⟩.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The OLD's first citations are Varro and Cicero: Varro hopes that faulty forms of speech will fall out of use and so be more easily corrected, and Cicero in the speech for Quinctius speaks of the old sense of duty whose splendour has faded in his day.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It means to fall into disuse or be forgotten:^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Cicero has military pursuits neglected among the young, and documents of the old strictness that had perished.^(OLD 2012) Seneca says that what flourished while new fades with time.^(OLD 2012) Apuleius uses it of the clearness of the voice fading in the windpipe.^(OLD 2012) It also means to lose esteem or lustre: Cicero says that virtue shines by itself and is never tarnished by others' faults, Gellius that Latin comedies pale beside the wit of the Greek ones, and Pliny the Younger that a man may shine in war but sink into obscurity in peace.^(OLD 2012) English formed [[m|en|obsolesce]] from it in 1801.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro of faulty usages falling out of use.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of tarnished splendour.^(OLD 2012)

+ * 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca of things fading with time.^(OLD 2012)

+ * c. 165 AD – Gellius of Latin comedies paling beside Greek.^(OLD 2012)

+ * 1801 – English [[m|en|obsolesce]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To fall into disuse, be forgotten, become [[m|en|obsolete]]; to wear out, [[m|en|decay]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # (of physical qualities) To fade away.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To lose esteem, be tarnished; to sink into obscurity.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[inobsoletus]]

+ * [[obsoleto]]

+ * [[obsolētus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[soleō]]

+ * [[exolēscō]]

+ * [[en|obsolete]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}