I. rel·ict ˈrelikt, -lēkt noun
( -s )
Etymology: in sense 1, from Latin relictum, neuter of relictus, past participle of relinquere to leave behind; in sense 2, from Latin relicta, neuter plural of relictus; in sense 3, from Late Latin relicta, from Latin, feminine of relictus; in senses 4 & 5, from relict (II) — more at relinquish
1. obsolete : relic 1a
2. relicts plural , archaic : relic 2
3. : widow
the relict of a famous general
a banker's wife who behaved as if she had been his relict — George Meredith
4. : a persistent remnant of an otherwise extinct flora or fauna or kind of organism
various Australian cycads are probably Carboniferous relicts
the metasequoia is a relict of a once abundant genus
5. : a relict relief feature or rock
older view that the Scandinavian mountain range is simply a relict of the higher ancient Caledonian range — Journal of Geology
II. re·lict rə̇ˈlikt, rēˈ- adjective
Etymology: Latin relictus, past participle of relinquere
1. obsolete : left behind by death ; specifically : widowed
2. also relic
a. : remaining after other parts have been removed or have disappeared : residual
relict lake
relict mountain
relict quartz
b. : left behind in a process of change
relict sulfides in a partly oxidized ore body
3. also relic : surviving as a remnant of a vanishing race, type, or species : belonging to an otherwise extinct class or kind
such relict animals as the opossum — Weston La Barre