latent
/ˈleɪ.tənt/ · adj
Meaning
- Existing or present but concealed or inactive.
- Remaining in an inactive or hidden phase; dormant.
- Lying dormant or hidden until circumstances are suitable for development or manifestation.
- The residue left by a person's finger that can be made visible by a process such as powder dusting; a latent fingerprint.
- An underlying cause that can be inferred from statistical correlations; factor.
- Anything that is latent.
Etymology / origin
From Middle English latent, latente, from Old French latent, from Latin latēns, present participle of lateō (“lie hidden”).
- latēns(la)→
- latent(fro)→
- latent(enm)→
- *leh₂-(ine-pro)→
- latent (English)
- Relations: root, inh, der, der
Related words
Descendant words
- latentti(Finnish) (cog)
Sources
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