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slumber

 - 2 dictionary results

slum⋅ber

[sluhm-ber]
–verb (used without object)
1. to sleep, esp. lightly; doze; drowse.
2. to be in a state of inactivity, negligence, quiescence, or calm: Vesuvius is slumbering.
–verb (used with object)
3. to spend or pass (time) in slumbering (often fol. by away, out, or through): to slumber the afternoon away.
4. to dispel or forget by slumbering (often fol. by away): to slumber cares away.
–noun
5. Sometimes, slumbers. sleep, esp. light sleep.
6. a period of sleep, esp. light sleep.
7. a state of inactivity, quiescence, etc.

Origin:
1175–1225; (v.) ME slumeren, freq. of slumen to doze, deriv. of OE slūma sleep (see -er 6 ); cf. G schlummern; (n.) ME slomur, slomber, deriv. of the v.


slum⋅ber⋅er, noun
slum⋅ber⋅less, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To slumber
slum·ber   (slŭm'bər)   
v.   slum·bered, slum·ber·ing, slum·bers

v.   intr.
  1. To sleep.

  2. To be dormant or quiescent.

v.   tr.
To pass (time) in sleep: slumbered the night away.
n.  
  1. Sleep.

  2. A state of inactivity or dormancy.


[Middle English slumeren, slumberen, frequentative of slumen, to doze, probably from slume, light sleep, from Old English slūma.]
slum'ber·er n., slum'ber·ing·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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