emergent

Etymology

See emerge, emergency.

Adjective

emergent (comparative more emergent, superlative most emergent)

1. Emerging; coming into view or into existence; nascent; new.
2. (botany) Taller than the surrounding vegetation.
3. (botany, of a water-dwelling plant) Having leaves and flowers above the water.
4. (video games) Having gameplay that arises from its mechanics, rather than a linear storyline.
   • 2008, Jim Rossignol, This Gaming Life: Travels in Three Cities (page 126)

     In short, emergent games are ones that allow a huge range of possibilities and don't dictate a strict, linear flow of events. A strategy game is emergent because so many units can interact and have some effect on each other.

5. Arising unexpectedly, especially if also calling for immediate reaction; constituting an emergency.
6. (philosophy, sciences) Having properties as a whole that are more complex than the properties contributed by each of the components individually.

Noun

emergent (plural emergents)

1. (botany) A plant whose root system grows underwater, but whose shoot, leaves and flowers grow up and above the water.

References

• emergent at OneLook Dictionary Search
• emergent in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911

Verb

ēmergent

1. third-person plural future active indicative of ēmergō