crescent

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crescent figure as of the waxing moon XIV; row of buildings in an arc XVIII. ME. cressa(u)nt — AN. cressaunt, OF. creissant (mod. croissant) :- L. crēscēns, -ent-, prp. of crēscere grow, INCREASE. In XVII assim. to the L. form, which was already current in crescent adj. XVI. See -ENT.

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