latent

latent
I. adjective Etymology: Middle English, from Latin latent-, latens, from present participle of latēre to lie hidden; akin to Greek lanthanein to escape notice Date: 15th century present and capable of becoming though not now visible, obvious, active, or symptomatic <
a latent infection
>
latently adverb Synonyms: latent, dormant, quiescent, potential mean not now showing signs of activity or existence. latent applies to a power or quality that has not yet come forth but may emerge and develop <
a latent desire for success
>
. dormant suggests the inactivity of something (as a feeling or power) as though sleeping <
their passion had lain dormant
>
. quiescent suggests a usually temporary cessation of activity <
the disease was quiescent
>
. potential applies to what does not yet have existence or effect but is likely soon to have <
a potential disaster
>
. II. noun Date: 1923 a fingerprint (as at the scene of a crime) that is scarcely visible but can be developed for study — called also latent fingerprint, latent print

New Collegiate Dictionary. 2001.

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  • latent — latent, ente [ latɑ̃, ɑ̃t ] adj. • 1361; lat. latens, de latere « être caché » 1 ♦ Qui demeure caché, ne se manifeste pas mais qui est susceptible de le faire à tout moment. ⇒ 1. secret. Conflit latent, qui couve. ⇒ larvé. Homosexualité latente.… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • latent — la·tent / lāt ənt/ adj: existing in hidden or dormant form but usu. capable of being brought to light compare patent Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam Webster. 1996 …   Law dictionary

  • latent — LATÉNT, Ă, latenţi, te, adj. Care există, dar nu se manifestă în exterior, putând izbucni oricând. – Din fr. latent, lat. latens, ntis. Trimis de LauraGellner, 24.03.2008. Sursa: DEX 98  LATÉNT adj. potenţial. (Energie latent.) Trimis de siveco …   Dicționar Român

  • Latent — La tent (l[=a] tent), a. [L. latens, entis, p. pr. of latere to lie hid or concealed; cf. Gr. lanqa nein, E. lethargy: cf. F. latent.] 1. Not visible or apparent; hidden; concealed; secret; dormant; as, latent springs of action. [1913 Webster]… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Latent — can refer to:* Latent heat, the amount of energy released or absorbed by a substance during a change of phase * A latent geologic fault * Latent bud, a bud in some plants that remains a bud until favourable conditions appear * Virus latency, the… …   Wikipedia

  • latent — Adj verborgen, nicht unmittelbar faßlich erw. fach. (18. Jh.) Entlehnung. Entlehnt aus l. latēns ( entis), dem PPräs. von l. latēre verborgen sein, versteckt sein .    Ebenso nndl. latent, ne. latent, nfrz. latent, nschw. latent, nnorw. latent. ✎ …   Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen sprache

  • latent — latent, dormant, quiescent, potential, abeyant are comparable when meaning not now manifest or not evincing signs of existence or activity. Latent implies concealment and is applied to what is present without showing itself {latent energy} {a… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • latent — [lāt′ nt] adj. [L latens, prp. of latere, to lie hidden, lurk < IE * lāidh < base * lā , to be hidden > ON lōmr, deception, Gr lēthē, forgetfulness, lanthanein, to be hidden] 1. present but invisible or inactive; lying hidden and… …   English World dictionary

  • latent — latent, ente (la tan, tan t ) adj. 1°   Terme technique. Qui est caché. Chaleur latente, chaleur qui n est point sensible au thermomètre (voy. calorique).    Terme de médecine. Maladie latente, maladie dont le diagnostic est obscur, qui ne… …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • latent — UK US /ˈleɪtənt/ adjective [before noun] ► present, but not yet active, developed, or obvious: »latent capability/talent/skill …   Financial and business terms

  • latent — »vorhanden, aber noch nicht in Erscheinung tretend; versteckt, verborgen; ohne typische Merkmale (besonders von Krankheiten)«: Das Adjektiv wurde im 18. Jh. aus gleichbed. frz. latent entlehnt, das auf lat. latens (latentis), dem Part. Präs. von… …   Das Herkunftswörterbuch

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