Early 19th century; earliest use found in Samuel Cooper (1780–1848), surgeon and writer. From classical Latin mollēscent-, mollēscēns, present participle of mollēscere to become soft from mollis soft + -ēscere.
Definition of mollescent in US English:
mollescent
adjectiveməˈlɛsnt
Medicine
That has become, or tends to become, soft.
Origin
Early 19th century; earliest use found in Samuel Cooper (1780–1848), surgeon and writer. From classical Latin mollēscent-, mollēscēns, present participle of mollēscere to become soft from mollis soft + -ēscere.