deciduous

English

WOTD – 24 August 2010, 24 August 2011

Etymology

Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *de
Proto-Indo-European *-h₁
Proto-Indo-European *déh₁
Proto-Italic *dē
Latin dē
Latin dē-
Proto-Indo-European *ḱad-
Proto-Indo-European *-eti
Proto-Indo-European *ḱádeti
Proto-Italic *kadō
Latin cadō
Latin dēcidō
Proto-Indo-European *-wós
Proto-Italic *-wos
Latin -uus
Latin dēciduuslbor.
English deciduous

    Learned borrowing from Latin dēciduus (“falling down or off”), from dēcidō (“to fall down or off”) + -uus.

    Pronunciation

    • (UK) IPA(key): /dɪˈsɪd͡ʒ.ʊ.əs/
    • (US) IPA(key): /dɪˈsɪd͡ʒ.u.əs/
    • Audio (US):(file)
    • Audio (Australia):(file)

    Adjective

    deciduous (not comparable)

    1. (biology, anatomy) Describing a part that falls off, or is shed, at a particular time or stage of development.
      • 1911, Richard Lydekker, 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica, Equidae:
        In the Hippoidea there is generally the full series of 44 teeth, but the first premolar is often deciduous or wanting in the lower or in both jaws.
      Antonyms: persistent, permanent
    2. (botany) Of or pertaining to trees which lose their leaves in winter or the dry season.
      Antonyms: evergreen, sempervirent
      Synonym: perdifoil. Compare caducous.
      a deciduous tree
      • 2012, Four Leaf Studios, “Prologue”, in Katawa Shoujo:
        A light breeze causes the naked branches overhead to rattle like wooden windchimes. This is a popular retreat for couples in the summer. The deciduous trees provide a beautiful green canopy, far out of sight of teachers and fellow students. But now, in late winter, it feels like I'm standing under a pile of kindling.
    3. (figurative) Transitory, ephemeral, not lasting.(Can we add an example for this sense?)

    Derived terms

    English terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *ḱh₂d- (0 c, 30 e)

    Translations

    Further reading

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