alkalescent, a. and n.
(ælkəˈlɛsənt)
[f. alkali, as if ad. L. *alkalēscent-em, pr. pple. of an inceptive *alkalēscĕre, analogous to acēscĕre to become sour, etc. Cf. mod.Fr. alcalescent.]
A. adj. Becoming or tending to become alkaline; of a character incipiently or slightly alkaline.
| 1732 Arbuthnot Rules Diet 255 All Animal Diet is Anti⁓acid or Alkalescent. 1756 C. Lucas Ess. Waters I. 186 Medicines which are chiefly alcaline or alcalescent. 1821 Shelley Lett. (1852) II. 259 Nothing but alcalescent water. |
B. n. An alkalescent substance.
| 1750 Pringle in Phil. Trans. XLVI. 555 Carrots, Turneps, Garlick..and Colewort, were tried (as Alcalescents). |