Dictionary

albescent en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /alˈbɛs.ənt/

Etymology

18th century. From Latin albescens, present participle of albescere (“to grow white”), from albus (“white”). By surface analysis, Latin alb(us) + -escent.

Meanings

1. Becoming white or whitish; moderately white.
   • This proceedeth from the variety of air (commonly found in islands) which sometimes being moist, sullies and renders the cornelian pale or albescent, after the manner of glass, which when breath'd upon, is clouded with a pale whitish colour, but upon change to a drier air, which will often happen in a moment, the cornelian recovers its former brisk red colour. 1726, The British Apollo: containing two thousand answers to curious questions in most arts and sciences, serious, comical, and humorous, approved of by many of the most learned and ingenious of both universities, and of the Royal-Society, 3rd edition, volume 1, the Bell in Little Britain: printed for Theodore Sanders, page 67:
   • Albescent shapes played over the walls, teasing hundreds of drifty pleasures from his brain. 2002, Steve Aylett, The Velocity Gospel, Scar Garden 2010 (Complete Accomplice), p. 180

Forms

Coordinates

flavescent · virescent · erubescent · nigrescent

Relateds

albescence

Translations (4)

pt albescente (becoming white) · bg белезникав (becoming white) · fi valkoisehko (becoming white) · fi valkeneva (becoming white)