rufescent

English

Etymology

Circa 1820, from Latin rufescens, present participle of rufescere (“to become reddish”), from rufus (“red”).

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɛsənt

Adjective

rufescent (comparative more rufescent, superlative most rufescent)

1. Becoming reddish; tinged with red.
   • 1937, The Emu: Official Organ of the Australasian Ornithologists' Union:

     The more inland, lighter race is distinguished from A. u. uropygialis in being much paler on the back, by the edgings of the forehead scallopings and auriculars being paler, and by having the brown of the forehead less deep and less rufescent.

   • 1972, Edred John Henry Corner, Boletus in Malaysia, page 42:

     Flesh unchanging or slowly rufescent.

   • 1975, Michael Jordan, A Guide to Mushrooms, page 72:

     Flesh white, but quickly rufescent where cut, at first full, becoming more spongy stuffed, and frequently hollow in old specimens, [...]

Latin

Verb

rūfēscent

1. third-person plural future active indicative of rūfēscō