virescent

[ vahy-res-uhnt, vi- ]

adjective

1. turning green.
2. tending to a green color; slightly greenish.

virescent

/ vɪˈrɛsənt /

adjective

1. greenish or becoming green

Word History and Origins

Origin of virescent¹

1820–30; < Latin virēscent- (stem of virēscēns, present participle of virēscere to become green), equivalent to vir ( ēre ) to be green + -ēscent- -escent

Word History and Origins

Origin of virescent¹

C19: from Latin virescere to grow green, from virēre to be green

Example Sentences

She is also interested in the virescent group, where the outer petals are almost entirely covered by distinct dark green areas.

From Washington Post

Rising after picking it up, a burning sensation met my eyes; the noxious gas bubbled like a sickly, virescent blossom from the flask.

From Scientific American

Snow-capped mountains above the tree line, lower conifer-covered rolling hills, fields of wildflowers, a lone boat plying the virescent Mooserboden reservoir, a group of schoolchildren hiking in the distance all combined to create an unreal backdrop of beauty.

From Washington Post

Various other blossoms respond in their own particular virescent hues to the vapors of ammonia, as the reader will discover upon experiment.

From Project Gutenberg

Having already sacrificed precious time scouting a Bird Cherry tree “as white as a bride,” Tarkovsky is infuriated when the crew is caught planting a virescent mismatch.

From Slate