subsidencyn.
/səbˈsʌɪdnsi/, /ˈsʌbsᵻdnsi/, U.S. /səbˈsaɪdnsi/, /ˈsəbsədnsi/ Now rare.
= subsidence n. 2, 4.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > downward motion > [noun] > sinking down
settlingc1440
sinking1440
declining1601
subsiding1607
subsidency1650
sedation1661
sinking-in1678
subsidence1754
sinkage1783
settlement1793
the world > action or operation > ceasing > [noun] > a stop or cessation of action or process > gradual
subsidence1651
subsidency1845
1650 T. Fuller Pisgah-sight of Palestine iii. 424 The beams were not broken with the sudden subsidency of the building.
1655 H. More Antidote against Atheism (ed. 2) App. xi. 374 Bodies..in a confused agitation may very likely go together as we see done..in the subsidency of this dreggish part of the world, the Earth.
a1661 T. Fuller Worthies (1662) Surrey 79 Those who judiciously impute the sudden subsidency of the Earth in the interstice aforesaid to some underground hollowness.
1701 J. Ray Wisdom of God (ed. 3) ii. 233 So as to cause a Subsidency of the Lungs by lessening the cavity there.
1780 Philos. Trans. 1779 (Royal Soc.) 69 597 A strong and regular current in a river is the best of all means..for preventing the formation of banks in the bed by the subsidency of mud, &c.
1811 J. Pinkerton Petralogy II. 416 Throughout all the space many fissures appeared and subsidencies of the ground.
1845 S. Judd Margaret ii. iii. 249 In the subsidency and departure of love, the moral system is revolutionized.
1901 Brit. Med. Jrnl. 2 262/2 There are..instances where there is no indication whatever that medicine will do any good whatever; that waiting for developments or subsidencies is the only skilful course.
1915 Geogr. Jrnl. 46 385 The country was lowered by renewed subsidencies.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2012; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1650