ADVENTITIOUS


Meaning of ADVENTITIOUS in English

-shəs adjective

Etymology: Latin adventicius

1. : coming from another source : added or appended extrinsically and not sharing original, essential, and intrinsic nature : not inherent or innate

we distinguish between borrowed, adventitious energy in verse, and its natural energy — C.D.Lewis

a disengagement of its own proper ideas from the adventitious notions which have crept into it — A.N.Whitehead

the adventitious paraphernalia of 20th century living — Time

2. biology

a. : arising sporadically or in other than the usual location

an adventitious part in embryonic development

b. : occurring spontaneously or accidentally in a country or region to which it is not native

adventitious weeds

an adventitious insect

3. : adventitial

4. : not congenital : acquired

adventitious deafness

Synonyms: see accidental

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.