I.v. inch. n. [obs-olesco], to wear out, to grow old, decay, fall into disuse, lose value, become obsolete (class.; “syn. exolesco): his (verbis) oportet, si possis, non uti: sic enim obsolescent,” Varr. L. L. 9, § 16 Müll.: “haec ne obsolescerent, renovabam, cum licebat, legendo,” Cic. Ac. 1, 3, 11: “obsolevit jam oratio,” id. Imp. Pomp. 17, 52: “vectigal, quod in bello non obsolescat,” id. Agr. 1, 7, 21: “laus,” Tac. A. 4, 26: “enituit aliquis in bello, sed obsolevit in pace,” Plin. Pan. 4, 5.—Hence, obsŏlētus , a, um, P. a.
A. Lit., old, worn out, thrown off: “erat veste obsoletā,” Liv. 27, 34: “vestitus,” Nep. Ages. 8, 2: “amiculum,” Curt. 6, 9, 25: “vestitu obsoletiore, Cig. Agr. 2, 5, 13: homo obsoletus,” in a worn-out dress, id. Pis. 36, 89: “tectum,” old, ruinous, Hor. C. 2, 10, 6: “verba,” obsolete, Cic. de Or. 3, 37, 150: “obsoleta et vulgaria,” id. Quint. 18, 56.—
B. Transf., common, ordinary, poor, mean, low: “crimina,” Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 44, § 177: “gaudia,” Liv. 30, 42.—Comp.: “obsoletior oratio,” a too ordinary, too negligent style, Cic. de Or. 3, 9, 33: “honores,” of little worth, Nep. Milt. 6, 2: “color,” Col. 4, 30: “o nec paternis obsoleta sordibus,” Hor. Epod. 17, 46: “dextra obsoleta sanguine,” defiled, Sen. Agam. 977.—Hence, adv.: obsŏlētē , in an old or worn-out style, poorly, meanly: “paulo tamen obsoletius vestitus,” Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 58, § 152.
