■ adjective
1》 (of an animal) in or as if in a deep sleep.
↘ Heraldry (of an animal) lying with its head on its paws.
2》 (of a plant or bud) alive but not growing.
3》 (of a volcano) temporarily inactive.
4》 (of a disease) causing no symptoms but liable to recur.
Derivatives
dormancy noun
Origin
ME: from OFr., 'sleeping', pres. participle of dormir , from L. dormire 'to sleep'.