English - Etymology

From Latin obsoletus (“worn out, gone out of use”), past participle of obsolescere (“to wear out, fall into disuse, grow old, decay”); see obsolesce.

English - Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ɒbsəˈliːt/
• (US) enPR: äbsəˈlēt, IPA^(key): /ɑbsəˈliːt/

English - Adjective

obsolete (comparative more obsolete, superlative most obsolete)

1. (of words, equipment, etc.) No longer in use; gone into disuse; disused or neglected (often by preference for something newer, which replaces the subject).

   It is speculated that, within a few years, the Internet's speedy delivery of news worldwide will make newspapers obsolete.

2. (biology) Imperfectly developed; not very distinct.

Usage notes

• Nouns to which "obsolete" is often applied: word, phrase, equipment, computer, technology, weapon, machine, law, statute, currency, building, idea, skill, concept, custom, theory, tradition, institution.

Synonyms

• (no longer in use): ancient, antiquated, antique, archaic, disused, neglected, old, old-fashioned, out of date
• (in biology: imperfectly developed): abortive, obscure, rudimental

Derived terms

• obsoleteness

Translations

English - Verb

obsolete (third-person singular simple present obsoletes, present participle obsoleting, simple past and past participle obsoleted)

1. (transitive, US) To cause to become obsolete.

   This software component has been obsoleted.

   We are in the process of obsoleting this product.

Usage notes

• To obsolete is often used in computing and other technical fields to indicate an effort to remove or replace something.
• Compare deprecated (“no longer considered correct usage”)

Translations

English - Related Terms

• obsolesce
• obsolescence
• obsolescent
• obsoletion

English - References

1. ^ Oxford Dictionary

English - External Links

• obsolete in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• obsolete in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
• obsolete at OneLook Dictionary Search

German - Adjective

obsolete

1. inflected form of obsolet

Italian - Adjective

obsolete f pl (feminine plural form of obsoleto)

1. Feminine plural form of obsoleto

Latin - Adverb

obsolētē

1. old

Latin - Adjective

obsolēte

1. vocative masculine singular of obsolētus

Rima