dormant

dor·mant

adjective \ˈdȯr-mənt\

Definition of DORMANT

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>

Examples of DORMANT

1. The seeds will remain dormant until the spring.
2. Her emotions have lain dormant for many years.

Origin of DORMANT

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

First Known Use: circa 1500

Related to DORMANT

Synonyms

asleep, dozing, napping, resting, sleeping, slumbering

Antonyms

awake, sleepless, wakeful, wide-awake

Related Words

drowsy, nodding, sleepy, slumberous (or slumbrous), somnolent; dreaming, reposing; hypnotized, mesmerized; comatose, semiconscious; sleepwalking, somnambulant

Near Antonyms

aware, conscious; sleepless; aroused, astir, awakened, roused, up, wakened; reawakened, revived

See Synonym Discussion at latent

Other Heraldry Terms

blazon, cachet, couchant, escutcheon, potent, standard, totem

Rhymes with DORMANT

formant