deciduous

adj

Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *de Proto-Indo-European *-h₁ Proto-Indo-European *déh₁ Proto-Italic *dē Latin dē Latin dē- Proto-Indo-European *ḱad- Proto-Indo-European *-eti Proto-Indo-European *ḱádeti Proto-Italic *kadō Latin cadō Latin dēcidō Proto-Indo-European *-wós Proto-Italic *-wos Latin -uus Latin dēciduuslbor. English deciduous Learned borrowing from Latin dēciduus (“falling down or off”), from dēcidō (“to fall down or off”) + -uus.

1. Describing a part that falls off, or is shed, at a particular time or stage of development.

   “In the Hippoidea there is generally the full series of 44 teeth, but the first premolar is often deciduous or wanting in the lower or in both jaws.”

2. Of or pertaining to trees which lose their leaves in winter or the dry season.

   “. Compare caducous.”

   “a deciduous tree”

3. Transitory, ephemeral, not lasting.