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Webster 1913 Edition


Desuetude

Des′ue-tude

,
Noun.
[L.
desuetudo
, from
desuescere
, to grow out of use, disuse;
de
+
suescere
to become used or accustomed: cf. F.
désuétude
. See
Custom
.]
The cessation of use; disuse; discontinuance of practice, custom, or fashion.
The
desuetude
abrogated the law, which, before, custom had established.
Jer. Taylor.

Webster 1828 Edition


Desuetude

DESUETUDE

,
Noun.
[L.] The cessation of use; disuse; discontinuance of practice, custom or fashion. Habit is contracted by practice, and lost by desuetude. Words in every language are lost by desuetude.

Definition 2024


desuetude

desuetude

See also: désuétude

English

Noun

desuetude (countable and uncountable, plural desuetudes)

  1. Disuse, obsolescence (for example, the state of a custom that is no longer observed nor practised).
    • 1819, Sir Walter Scott, Bride of Lammermoor
      ... we of the house of Ravenswood do our endeavour in keeping up, by all just and lawful exertion of our baronial authority, that due and fitting connexion betwixt superior and vassal, which is in some danger of falling into desuetude, owing to the general license and misrule of these present unhappy times.

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