4

Is saying "an obsolete remnant" or "an old remnant" redundant (or tautologous), or can the adjective be necessary to convey what I'm trying to say?

(I imagined "remnant" already carries the connotation of "obsolete" to some extent, but looking at Wiktionary, maybe that is not the case.)

Bonus question: Is there a better noun for "something that's remaining or left behind, yet obsolete"?

Improve this question
6
  • 2
    You can have carpet remnants, and carpet is not obsolete.
    – Mitch
    Jun 12, 2012 at 13:17
  • Context whence the question arose: in a software project, a file that had been laying in version control for a year, originally added with some intention in mind, but actually serving no purpose whatsoever. What to call that file?
    – Jonik
    Jun 12, 2012 at 13:38
  • 3
    I would call it a 'relic'("An old, outmoded, or outdated person or thing"), if it were simply too old to use, or maybe a 'white elephant' if it were a project that never really got going ~ "an object, scheme, etc., considered to be without use or value."
    – Roaring Fish
    Jun 12, 2012 at 13:51
  • @RoaringFish: Yeah, "relic" is good. What lead me to think of "remnant" was the Finnish word jäänne, which actually better translates to "relic" or "remains" now that I looked it up.
    – Jonik
    Jun 12, 2012 at 16:44
  • @Jonik RE your comment specifically: I'd call that file an "obsolete file".
    – Jay
    Jun 12, 2012 at 16:56

3 Answers 3

Reset to default
5

If we take remnant to mean a small part of something that is left over, obsolete and old need not be redundant. Even if obsolete and old are taken to be part of the connotations of the word, they would serve as intensifiers of the meaning.

Improve this answer
11

First, let's get the basics clear.

Obsolete: no longer used; out of date

Remnant: a part or quantity that is left after the greater part has been used, removed, or destroyed

Old: old

So, "obsolete" and "old" are not redundant in the phrases you have provided.

As for the bonus question, you could try:

  • Vestige
  • Remainder
  • Leftover
  • Remains

(The choice of the synonym - for the bonus question - would depend entirely upon the context of the statement where it is to be used.)

Improve this answer
5
  • Thanks! (I sdded some context as a comment to the question.)
    – Jonik
    Jun 12, 2012 at 13:38
  • @Jonik You could call such a file to be redundant or superfluous.
    – user20934
    Jun 12, 2012 at 13:42
  • 1
    A "remnant" is not necessarily "old" at all. If, say, you are installing carpet and have a remnant, at the instant it becomes a remnant it is exactly as new as the carpet that was installed. Also, carpet stores routinely sell such remnants at a discount to be used as small rugs and the like, so a remnant is not necessarily useless or obsolete.
    – Jay
    Jun 12, 2012 at 16:54
  • @Jay Where have I written that a "remnant" is necessarily old?
    – user20934
    Jun 13, 2012 at 4:58
  • 1
    @rudra You didn't. I was agreeing with you. (Don't be so defensive. :-)
    – Jay
    Jun 13, 2012 at 16:00
3

As mentioned in a previous answer, remnant (a remaining portion) does not denote old or obsolete (old, disused).

Regarding part 2 of the question, the previously-suggested terms vestige, remainder, redundant, and superfluous are all very well, but the "proper term" for obsolete bits of software left lying about in a project is cruft, "Redundant, old or improperly written code, especially that which accumulates over time; clutter".

Improve this answer
1
  • Thanks, "cruft" is useful. In this particular case, however, it wasn't really code — just a single JSP file that was essentially empty (but whose existence still caused a bug) — so, a countable noun would be preferred. "Relic", suggested by others, is close to what I was looking for.
    – Jonik
    Jun 12, 2012 at 16:55

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.