Word Study
caducous
CIDE DICTIONARY
caducous, [L. caducus falling, inclined to fall, fr. cadere to fall. See Cadence.].
Dropping off or disappearing early, as the calyx of a poppy, or the gills of a tadpole. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
caducous, adj. Biol. (of organs and parts) easily detached or shed at an early stage.
Derivative
caducity n.
Etymology
L caducus falling f. cadere fall
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