I am not as good as all of you in computer science, by I was not
bad in Latin in my youth, so I offer my contribution to understand
what -escent means.
Many Latin verbs can take a so-called inchoative form in -escere
Inchoative = "denoting the beginning of an action, state, or occurrence --
used of verbs" (Merriam-Webster).
The meaning "to become" is an extension of the main meaning "to begin, to
start" (the two meanings are often close enough to be confused)
Therefore,
adolescent = "who begins to be an adult", "who is becoming an adult"
convalescent = Etymology: Latin convalescere, from com- + valescere to
grow strong, from valEre to be strong, be well (Merriam-Webster)
and of course
obsolescent = "which starts to be obsolete", "which is in the way of
becoming obsolete"
For a list of inchoative English verbs, see
http://latin.about.com/education/latin/library/blessence.htm
It looks that after all, Latin is not obsolete and not even
obsolescent
Alberto
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Alberto Fasso'
Stanford Linear Accelerator Center
Radiation Physics Dept. ms 48
2575 Sand Hill Road
Menlo Park, CA 94025
Tel. (1 650) 926 4062 Fax: (1 650) 926 3569
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