Nearby Words
adjective
1.
present but not visible, apparent, or actualized; existing as potential: latent ability.
2.
Pathology. (of an infectious agent or disease) remaining in an inactive or hidden phase; dormant.
3.
Psychology. existing in unconscious or dormant form but potentially able to achieve expression: a latent emotion.
4.
Botany. (of buds that are not externally manifest) dormant or undeveloped.
Origin:
1610–20; < Latin latent- (stem of latēns) present participle of latēre to lie hidden; see -ent
1610–20; < Latin latent- (stem of latēns) present participle of latēre to lie hidden; see -ent
Related forms
la·tent·ly, adverb
Synonyms
1. dormant, quiescent, veiled, Latent, potential refer to powers or possibilities existing but hidden or not yet actualized. Latent emphasizes the hidden character or the dormancy of what is named: latent qualities, defects, diseases. That which is potential exists in an as yet undeveloped state, but is thought of as capable of coming into full being or activity at some future time: potential genius, tragedy. Potential may be applied also to tangibles: High-tension wires are a potential source of danger.
1. dormant, quiescent, veiled, Latent, potential refer to powers or possibilities existing but hidden or not yet actualized. Latent emphasizes the hidden character or the dormancy of what is named: latent qualities, defects, diseases. That which is potential exists in an as yet undeveloped state, but is thought of as capable of coming into full being or activity at some future time: potential genius, tragedy. Potential may be applied also to tangibles: High-tension wires are a potential source of danger.
Antonyms
1. open, active.
1. open, active.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Latent
is a GRE word you need to know.
So is fulminate. Does it mean:
| philosophy that government should advocate civil liberties and equal opportunity |
| issue or utter verbal attacks or censures |
Collins
World English Dictionary
| latent (ˈleɪtənt) | |
| —adj | |
| 1. | potential but not obvious or explicit |
| 2. | (of buds, spores, etc) dormant |
| 3. | pathol (esp of an infectious disease) not yet revealed or manifest |
| 4. | (of a virus) inactive in the host cell, its nucleic acid being integrated into, and replicated with, the host cell's DNA |
| 5. | psychoanal Compare manifest relating to that part of a dream expressive of repressed desires: latent content |
| [C17: from Latin latēnt-, from latens present participle of latēre to lie hidden] | |
| 'latency | |
| —n | |
| 'latently | |
| —adv | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
latent
mid-15c., from L. latentem (nom. latens), prp. of latere "to lie hidden," from PIE *laidh-, from base *la- "to be hidden" (cf. Gk. lethe "forgetfulness, oblivion," O.C.S. lajati "to lie in wait for").
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary
latent la·tent (lāt'nt)
adj.
Present or potential but not evident or active.
In a dormant or hidden stage, as an infection.
Undeveloped but capable of normal growth under the proper conditions.
Present in the unconscious mind but not consciously expressed.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
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