emergentadj.n.
/ᵻˈməːdʒ(ə)nt/, U.S. /əˈmərdʒənt/, /iˈmərdʒənt/ A. adj.† 7. emergent year n. transl. of medieval Latin annus emergens. Obsolete.The term was used by Gervase of Tilbury, who says that the Jews have three modes of reckoning their years: viz., annum usualem, which they employ in conformity with the practice of their Christian neighbours, beginning on 1 Jan.; annum legitimum, which begins in April; and annum emergentem, which is reckoned from their departure from Egypt. In this passage emergens has its usual medieval Latin sense ‘arising out of a particular circumstance’ (cf. A. 4, A. 5); but after the publication of Gervase in Leibniz Script. Rer. Brunsv. (1707–10) the phrase annus emergens was taken to mean ‘the initial year of an era’ (a misconception to which the sentence, apart from its context, easily lends itself). Hence the modern equivalents of the Latin phrase, with this incorrect explanation, found their way into 18th cent. dictionaries of French, Spanish, and English; but we have failed to discover any evidence that they actually came into use in those languages. A passage from the same ultimate source as that in Gervase occurs in Higden (see quot. c1450).In modern dictionaries.
1.
a. Rising out of a surrounding medium, e.g. water.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going or coming out > [adjective] > from surrounding medium
emergent1627
emerging1646
1627 T. May tr. Lucan Pharsalia (new ed.) iv. 141 Emergent hills t'appeare began.
1683 Weekly Memorials for Ingenious (Faithorne & Kersey) 15 Jan. 355 One Part is emergent above the Water.
1773 R. Fergusson Poems 45 Britannia..Floating emergent on the frigid zone.
1853 J. Ruskin Stones of Venice II. vi. 177 The great plain, broken by an emergent rock or clump of trees.
b. figurative with direct reference to lit. sense.
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a1637 B. Jonson Timber 27 in Wks. (1640) III The man that is once hated, both his good, and his evill deeds oppresse him: Hee is not easily emergent.
1647 T. May Hist. Parl. iii. vi. 102 Parliament was..so..sunke..that nothing but an extraordinary providence could make it again emergent.
1763 W. Shenstone Elegies v. 27 Hope, still emergent, still contemns the wave.
a1797 H. Walpole Mem. George II (1847) I. 376 The emergent humour of his people.
2.
a. That is in process of issuing forth.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going or coming out > [adjective] > from confinement, concealment, or obscurity
emergent1640
emerging1646
1640 J. Shirley Opportunity Ded. This poem..emergent from the press.
1728 J. Thomson Spring 16 Which when, emergent from the gloomy Wood, The glaring Lyon saw.
1838 J. Struthers Poet. Tales 38 The sun emergent smiled.
b. spec. in Astronomy (see quot.); in Optics said of a ray of light after passing through a refracting medium; so also of a ray of heat.
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1676 I. Newton in Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 11 558 The incident refractions were..equal to the emergent.
1721 N. Bailey Universal Etymol. Eng. Dict. (at cited word) When a Star is getting out of the Sun Beams, and ready to become visible, it is said to be emergent.
1822 T. Webster Imison's Elem. Sci. & Art (new ed.) I. 246 The emergent rays will be collected to a focus.
1863 J. Tyndall Heat (1870) ix. 287 Heat emergent from these respective plates.
c. Science. That emerges unpredictably as the result of an evolutionary process, spec. in emergent evolution.
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1915 Scientia XVIII. 255 The emergence of anything new in the world... If intrinsic structure and external conditions are..strictly similar, nothing new emerges. But if with like intrinsic structure the conditions are different, or vice versa, something new may emerge. And if genuinely emergent (as contrasted with resultant in accordance with G. H. Lewes's distinction) it may be unpredictable.
1923 C. L. Morgan (title) Emergent evolution.
1923 C. L. Morgan Emergent Evolution i. 1 Under what I here call emergent evolution stress is laid on this incoming of the new.
1928 Observer 1 June 5/3 That growing body of thought called ‘Emergent Evolution’.
1932 Discovery Apr. 108/2 One of the salient features in recent aetiology (i.e. evolution lore) has been the recognition of the more or less open secret expressed in the term ‘emergent evolution’... It has become evident that the Ascent of Life has been a succession of ‘emergent’ steps, novelties that are creative rather than ‘additive’, such as birds from ancestral reptiles.
3. figurative.
a. That is in process of rising into notice.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > manifestation > disclosure or revelation > [adjective] > disclosed or revealed > becoming
emergent1655
1655 H. L'Estrange Reign King Charles 8 The self same spirit of contest..was emergent long before that marriage.
1837 T. Carlyle French Revol. II. vi. vi. 400 Either emergent, or else emerged and full-blown.
1851 J. H. Newman Lect. Present Position Catholics Eng. 189 There are emergent parties in this country.
b. Of a nation: that is newly independent; of a people: that is conscious of its national identity.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > lack of subjection > freedom or liberty > independence > [adjective] > politically separate or independent > newly
emergent1954
1954 N.Y. Times Mag. 31 Oct. vi. 13 The ambitions and the unquenchable hope of emergent Africa.
1957 H. Thomas World's Game xv. 191 The chauvinistic young foreign ministers of emergent countries.
1960 Daily Tel. 13 Jan. 10/2 Each of the ‘emergent’ territories in Africa has different problems, to which each must find its own best solution.
1963 Listener 7 Feb. 233/1 They [sc. the Fijians] just will not be emergent or emancipated.
4. figurative. That arises from or out of something prior; consequent, derivative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > causation > effect, result, or consequence > [adjective]
corollaryc1449
consequent1509
resulting?a1560
sequent1575
pursuant1593
following1594
ensuing1604
eventual1607
attendant1617
emergentc1619
resultant1639
resultative1645
consecutive1647
reflexed1653
redundant1654
reflex1654
consequential1655
resultive1655
attending1682
propter hoc1889
ensuant1897
sequential1899
pursuivant1941
c1619 T. Lushington Resurrect. Serm. in Phenix II. 488 Declining all emergent controversys.
1650 T. Venner Advt. in Via Recta (rev. ed.) 370 From whose [blood's] losse or want so great hurts are emergent.
1692 R. South 12 Serm. I. 384 A necessity emergent from, and inherent in the things themselves.
1833 J. F. W. Herschel Astron. (1858) xiii. §689 The changes of excentricity emergent..from the action of the normal force.
5.
a. Casually or unexpectedly arising; not specially provided for. archaic.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > causation > chance or causelessness > [adjective]
byc1050
casualc1374
fortuitc1374
fortunelc1374
fortunousc1374
causelessc1386
adventurousc1405
accidental1502
fortunable1509
happya1522
chanceable1549
occasional1569
accidentary1581
emergent1593
streave1598
contingent1604
happening1621
incidental1644
lucky1648
sporadical1654
temerarious1660
spontaneous1664
incidentarya1670
chance1676
antrin?1725
fortuitous1806
sporadic1821
windfall1845
chanced1853
blind1873
happenchance1905
happenstance1905
1593 T. Bilson Perpetual Govt. Christes Church 375 To amend all matters emergent.
1653 H. Cogan tr. Diodorus Siculus Hist. 238 It is their custome after meate to fall into some emergent discourse.
a1665 K. Digby Jrnl. Voy. to Mediterranean (1868) 3 That the Admirall may giue directions vpon emergent occasions.
1726 J. Ayliffe Parergon Juris Canonici Anglicani 282 Allowances of Money paid to Persons for emergent Services.
1859 R. C. Trench Hulsean Lect. 1845–6 (ed. 4) 35 Occasional documents called forth by emergent needs.
b. Used for ‘urgent’, ‘pressing’.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > difficulty > [adjective] > relating to or characterized by emergency
needfula1325
emergent1706
the mind > attention and judgement > importance > [adjective] > urgent
urgent1496
instant1585
pressing1609
rash1609
pressive1619
imperative1621
imperious1623
exigent1624
urging1647
emergent1706
high pressure1834
acute1846
the mind > will > necessity > condition of being necessary > need or want > [adjective] > urgent
urgent1496
thronga1525
crying1608
pressing1609
rash1609
pressive1619
urging1647
immergent1655
emergent1706
acute1846
1706 D. Defoe Jure Divino Pref. p. i To perswade their Princes to trust them in their most emergent Occasions.
1718 Lady M. W. Montagu Let. May (1965) I. 410 The most emergent necessity.
1878 Macmillan's Mag. Jan. 254/1 Certain petty and emergent repairs.
1881 Spectator 19 Feb. 245 The provocation was of the most emergent kind.
1882 R. Temple Men & Events viii. 182–3 If a matter was politically emergent..he cast away his over-caution.
6. Required for emergencies.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > necessity > condition of being necessary > need or want > [adjective] > needed or required > for emergencies
emergent1800
1800 Duke of Wellington Let. 24 Jan. in Dispatches (1837) I. 65 I have this day sent a supply of emergent ammunition.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > period > year > [noun] > of specific calendar
year of gracec1325
year of jubilee1382
emergent yearc1450
Julian year1592
sabbatic1649
academical year1773
academic year1814
Sothic year1828
c1450 tr. Higden's Polychron. (Harl. 2261) I. 37 Also there is a yere emergente as anendes theyme begynnengs from May when thei wente from Egipte.
1736 N. Bailey et al. Dictionarium Britannicum (ed. 2) Emergent year [with erroneous explanation as above].
B. n.† 2. An unforeseen occurrence, a contingency not specially provided for; = emergency n. 3. Obsolete.
1. † a. An outcome, incidental result. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > causation > effect, result, or consequence > [noun] > outcome or that which results > incidental result
emergent1528
by event1644
1528 State Lett. in Burnet Hist. Ref. II. 89 In this cause of Matrimony with all the emergents and dependencies upon the same.
1656 J. Bramhall Replic. to Bishop of Chalcedon vi. 235 The consideration of one or two circumstances or emergents.
b. In wider use: something that emerges.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > occurrence > [noun] > something that emerges
development1805
emergent1920
1920 Challenge 15 Oct. 337/2 The growing estrangement [between England and Ireland] which is the mildest emergent from the tragedy.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > occurrence > [noun] > unexpected event or course of events
went1338
emergent1620
emergencya1631
counter-turninga1668
emergencea1676
counter-turn1744
go1783
contretemps1809
turn-up1884
the world > action or operation > difficulty > [noun] > difficult state of things > sudden, extreme, or emergency
needOE
needinga1400
exigentc1475
plunge1519
opportunity1526
push1563
dead lift1567
heft1587
exigence1588
exigency1601
emergent1620
lift1624
emergencya1631
emergencea1676
emergementa1734
amplush1827
crisis1848
situation1954
1620 N. Brent tr. P. Sarpi Hist. Councel of Trent vii. 658 To be able to giue a rule for all emergents, as the times doe require.
1650 J. Row & J. Row Hist. Kirk Scotl. (1842) 47 Maters falling out, new incidents and emergents.
a1715 Bp. G. Burnet Hist. Own Time (1724) I. 385 By an unlooked for emergent the session was broke.
1720 R. Wodrow Corr. (1843) II. 491 My behaviour in this emergent.
3. Science. An effect produced by a combination of several causes, but not capable of being regarded as the sum of their individual effects. Opposed to resultant.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > causation > effect, result, or consequence > [noun] > other types of effect
co-effect1768
ricochet1773
surface effect1837
emergent1874
dent1942
1874 G. H. Lewes Probl. Life & Mind I. 98.
1928 C. E. M. Joad Future of Life vi. 105 The mind is an ‘emergent’ upon the combination of two constituents—namely the body and what Professor Broad calls the ‘psychic factor’.
1936 Nature 28 Mar. 522/2 The system of thought which he [sc. C. Lloyd Morgan] ultimately propounded was what he called a philosophy of evolution, but evolution as meaning the coming into existence of something in some sense new; and this something new, in a specialised sense, he labelled, adopting G. H. Lewes's term, ‘emergent’, as contrasted with resultant.
1959 Listener 8 Jan. 58/1 When Alexander speaks of ‘emergents’ he sometimes means qualities which some psychologists nowadays would call the Gestalt properties of ordered systems..but sometimes he means something more like the possibility of a new way of functioning released through a particular kind of ordered structure.
Draft additions June 2012
Physical Geography. Designating a stretch of coastal land that has emerged or exists as a result of a relative drop in sea level; of or relating to such land. Cf. submergent adj. 1.
ΚΠ
1907 Nelson's Encycl. (rev. ed.) III. 205/3 There is no objection..to the use of raised or emergent [previous ed.: emerged] coast for the region where a negative sea-level movement has occurred.
1947 Geogr. Jrnl. 109 107 The coast of West Sussex which, while in fact ‘submergent’, reveals definite emergent characteristics in the wide coastal plain and the Goodwood raised beach.
2006 K. D. Rose Beginning Age Mammals i. 18/2 The Bering land bridge..seems to have been emergent throughout most of the Cenozoic.
Draft additions June 2012
Ecology. Of a plant or vegetation: rooted under water but rising above the water surface. Cf. submergent adj. 2.
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1903 Bull. Illinois State Lab. Nat. Hist. 6 368 The vegetation lacks the lilies, rushes, sedges, and other emergent plants which characterize the eastern shore.
1963 Bull. Mus. Compar. Zoöl. Harvard 129 427 In standing waters with rooted emergent vegetation, it is very common to find specimens of Ferrissia.
2007 Tampa Tribune (Florida) (Nexis) 6 Apr. 6 While maiden cane is emergent vegetation, peppergrass is submergent and grows to the surface only.
Draft additions June 2012
Ecology. An emergent water plant.
ΚΠ
1911 Biol. Bull. 22 8 Pond 7a has a large number of emerging plants... In pond 14b emergents are dominant.
1956 Jrnl. Animal Ecol. 25 351 The chief emergents Carex rostrata Stokes, Iris pseudacorus L., and Sparganium erectum L.
2006 A. G. van der Valk Biol. Freshwater Wetlands i. 6 Different vegetation classes with distinct plant growth forms (mosses and lichens, emergents, submersed aquatics, shrubs and trees) are recognized.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1891; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.n.c1450