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stagnant - 4 dictionary results

stag⋅nant

  [stag-nuhnt]
Use stagnant in a Sentence
–adjective
1. not flowing or running, as water, air, etc.
2. stale or foul from standing, as a pool of water.
3. characterized by lack of development, advancement, or progressive movement: a stagnant economy.
4. inactive, sluggish, or dull.
Origin:
1660–70; < L stāgnant- (s. of stāgnāns), prp. of stāgnāre to stagnate; see -ant

Related forms:
stag⋅nan⋅cy, stagnance, noun
stag⋅nant⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
4. dormant, lifeless, dead, inert, lazy.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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stag·nant   (stāg'nənt)   
adj.  
  1. Not moving or flowing; motionless.
  2. Foul or stale from standing: stagnant ponds.
    1. Showing little or no sign of activity or advancement; not developing or progressing; inactive: a stagnant economy.
    2. Lacking vitality or briskness; sluggish or dull: a stagnant mind.

[Latin stāgnāns, stāgnant-, present participle of stāgnāre, to be stagnant; see stagnate.]
stag'nan·cy n., stag'nant·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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Stagnant

Stag"nant\, a. [L. stagnans, -antis, p. pr. of stagnare. See Stagnate.]

1. That stagnates; not flowing; not running in a current or steam; motionless; hence, impure or foul from want of motion; as, a stagnant lake or pond; stagnant blood in the veins.

2. Not active or brisk; dull; as, business in stagnant.

That gloomy slumber of the stagnant soul. --Johnson.

For him a stagnant life was not worth living. --Palfrey.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : stagnant
Italian: stagnante,
German: abgestanden,
Japanese: よどんだ
More Translations »

stagnant 
1666, from Fr. stagnant (1611), from L. stagnantem (nom. stagnans), prp. of stagnare (see stagnate).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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