adventitious

[ad-vuh n-tish-uh s] /ˌæd vənˈtɪʃ əs/

adjective

associated with something by chance rather than as an integral part; extrinsic.

Botany, Zoology. appearing in an abnormal or unusual position or place, as a root.

Origin

1595-1605; < Latin adventīcius literally, coming from without, external, equivalent to ad- ad- + ven- (stem of venīre to come) + -t(us) past participle suffix + -īcius -itious

Related forms

adventitiously, adverb

adventitiousness, noun

nonadventitious, adjective

nonadventitiously, adverb

nonadventitiousness, noun

Examples from the web for adventitious

These climbing roots are adventitious; that is, they do not arise from the young root of the germinating seed.
The poem obtained adventitious fame.
Stilt roots are adventitious roots that grow out of the main trunk, a yard or so above the ground.
This would be sacrificing the essential to the adventitious with a vengeance.
These adventitious chats do not substitute for policies.
The rhetoric reflected the sudden, adventitious nature of the crisis.

British Dictionary definitions for adventitious

adventitious

/ˌædvɛnˈtɪʃəs/

adjective

added or appearing accidentally or unexpectedly

(of a plant or animal part) developing in an abnormal position, as a root that grows from a stem

Derived Forms

adventitiously, adverb

Word Origin

C17: from Latin adventīcius coming from outside, from adventus a coming

Word Origin and History for adventitious

adj.

"of the nature of an addition from without," c.1600, from Medieval Latin adventitius "coming from abroad, extraneous," a corruption of Latin adventicius "foreign, strange, accidental," from advent- past participle stem of advenire "arrive" (see advent). Related: Adventitiously; adventitiousness.

adventitious in Medicine

adventitious ad·ven·ti·tious (ād'věn-tĭsh'əs, -vən-)
adj.

Arising from an external source or occurring in an unusual place or manner; extrinsic.
Occurring accidentally or spontaneously, not caused by heredity.
Adventitial.

ad'ven·ti'tious·ly adv.