viridescent

English

Etymology

C 1850 from Late Latin viridescens, present participle of viridescere; see virescent.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˌvɪɹəˈdɛs(ə)nt/
• Rhymes: -ɛsənt

Adjective

viridescent (comparative more viridescent, superlative most viridescent)

1. Having a greenish hue; becoming somewhat green in color.

   Synonyms: see Thesaurus:greenish, Thesaurus:verdant

   • 1891 December, Simon Henry Gage, “Life-History of the Vermilion-Spotted Newt (Diemyctylus viridescens Raf.)”, in The American Naturalist, volume 25, number 300, Salem, Mass.: Essex Institute, American Society of Naturalists, page 1084:

     In from two to three years the newt changes its red for a viridescent coloration, returns to the water, loses its ciliated and regains a stratified non-ciliated oral epithelium, and reassumes a partial aquatic respiration, and during the remainder of its life is properly an aquatic form.

Derived terms

• viridescence

Latin

Verb

viridēscent

1. third-person plural future active indicative of viridēscō