Liquesced

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Transformed from a solid or gaseous state into a liquid by the application of heat or pressure
2. Melted or became liquid, either by heating or by the action of a solvent dissolving the material
3. Converted into liquid form through thermal or chemical means, passing from a denser to a more fluid state

Etymology: "Liquesced" is the past tense and past participle of "liquesce," meaning to melt or become liquid. The verb comes from Latin "liquēscere," an inchoative form of "liquēre," "to be fluid or clear," which is also the source of English "liquid" and "liquor." The "-esce" ending in Latin marks the beginning of a process, so the verb carries the sense of starting to become liquid rather than simply being liquid. That inceptive sense is what sets the word apart from its relatives. "Liquid" describes a state that already exists, while "liquesce" describes the moment of transition, as when ice starts to soften or wax begins to slump in the heat. English borrowed the verb to express that gradual change, and it has stayed a technical-leaning term used mainly in scientific and descriptive writing.