emergence

Etymology

Borrowed from French émergence. Doublet of emergency. Morphologically emerge + -ence.

noun

  1. The act of rising out of a fluid, or coming forth from envelopment or concealment, or of rising into view; sudden uprising or appearance.
  2. In particular: the arising of emergent structure in complex systems.
  3. (obsolete) An emergency.
    In this dire emergence, the Marquis de Torcy, minister for foreign affairs, offered his services. 1790, Charles Hamilton, Transactions During the Reign of Queen Anne
    I[…]had recourse to an English Merchant, Mr Gregory, long settled at Dunkirk, to whom, happily, I had been recommended, as to a person capable, in any emergence, to afford me assistance. 1812, Frances Burney, Journals and Letters, Penguin, published 2001, page 452

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