I. |äbsə|lēt, usu -ēd.+V adjective
Etymology: Latin obsoletus, past participle of obsolescere to grow old, fall into disuse, perhaps from ob- to, toward + -solescere (from solēre to be accustomed) — more at ob , insolent
1. : no longer active or in use : disused, neglected : as
a. : formerly but no longer current
an obsolete word
an obsolete construction
b. : of a kind or style no longer current : outmoded
obsolete equipment
an obsolete theory
c.
(1) of a postage or revenue stamp : no longer issued by a post office : no longer on sale as a postal or revenue item
(2) of a piece of currency : no longer legal tender because demonetized or issued by an authority that is no longer in existence
d. of a business firm : gone out of existence : having ceased to conduct business
2. : worn out : reduced to a trace : effaced: as
a. of a plant or animal part : indistinct or imperfect as compared with a corresponding part in related organisms : reduced , rudimentary , vestigial
spotting and ridges obsolete
b. of a lesion or an infective process : diminished , indistinct , effaced
3. : regarded as out of date whether currently in use or not
this model makes all other cars obsolete
the colonial system is obsolete
Synonyms: see old
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Latin obsoletus, past participle of obsolescere
: to make obsolete
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: obsolete (I)
: something that is obsolete (as a word or phrase)