Main Entry: dor·mant

Pronunciation: \ˈdȯr-mənt\

Function: adjective

Etymology: Middle English, fixed, stationary, from Anglo-French, from present participle of dormir to sleep, from Latin dormire; akin to Sanskrit drāti he sleeps

Date: circa 1500

1 : represented on a coat of arms in a lying position with the head on the forepaws
2 : marked by a suspension of activity: as a : temporarily devoid of external activity <a dormant volcano> b : temporarily in abeyance yet capable of being activated
3 a : asleep, inactive b : having the faculties suspended : sluggish c : having biological activity suspended: as (1) : being in a state of suspended animation (2) : not actively growing but protected (as by bud scales) from the environment —used of plant parts
4 : associated with, carried out, or applied during a period of dormancy <dormant grafting>

synonyms see latent