adventitious, a.
(ædvənˈtɪʃəs)
Also adventicious.
[f. L. adventīci-us, in med.L. corruptly written adventiti-us, coming to us from abroad + -ous: see Advent, and -itious). The occas. adventicious is etymologically a better spelling.]
1. Of the nature of an addition from without; extrinsically added, not essentially inherent; supervenient, accidental, casual. Cf. the obs. adventive.
| 1603 Holland Plutarch's Mor. 1307 That which is extraordinarily adventitious, unholsome and diseased. 1627 Hakewill Apol. ii. ix. §6 This decay in the creatures ariseth..from an adventicious and externall cause. 1630 Howell Lett. (1650) I. 387 Greek..was an adventitious, no mother-language to them. 1677 Gale Crt. of Gentiles II. iv. 36 An adventitious joy which hath no funde or bottome. 1756 C. Lucas Ess. on Waters I. 35 Our Thames..is tainted with an infinite variety of adventitious bodies from the streets. 1831 Carlyle Sart. Res. (1858) 34 When a man first strips himself of adventitious wrappages; and sees indeed that he is naked. 1846 Grote Greece (1862) I. xviii. 424 An adventitious population accumulated in Attica. |
2. Law. (See quot. 1751.)
| 1651 W. G. tr. Cowel's Instit. 17 Estate whither adventitious or bequeathed. 1751 Chambers Cycl., Adventitious, in the Civil Law, is applied to such goods as fall to a man, either by mere fortune, or by the liberality of a stranger, or by collateral, not direct succession. In this sense the word stands opposed to Profectitious; by which are signified such goods as descend in a direct line. 1880 Muirhead Ulpian vi. §3 A dowry is either profecticious, that is, given by the woman's father, or adventicious, given by some other person. |
3. Nat. Hist. Appearing casually, or out of the normal or usual place, esp. in Bot. of roots, shoots, buds, etc. produced in unusual parts of the plant.
| 1676 Grew Anat. Plants iv. i. ii. (1682) 148 There are also some spots, or rather streaks, which are adventitious; as those in the Leaves of Sonchus. 1836 Todd Cycl. Anat. & Phys. I. 606/1 Like all adventitious organic products, cicatrices are very readily irritated. 1842 Gray Struct. Bot. iii. §2 (1880) 45 Even leaves may develop adventitious buds. 1872 Oliver Elem. Bot. ii. 233 The celebrated Banyan tree, remarkable for the enormous extension of its crown by means of adventitious roots. |