I. ˈlāt ə nt adjective
Etymology: Latin latent-, latens, present participle of latēre to lie hidden; akin to Old High German luog den, lair, Old Norse lōmr deceit, Greek lanthanein to escape notice, Old Slavic lajati to lie in wait for
1.
a. : existing in hidden, dormant, or repressed form but usually capable of being evoked, expressed, or brought to light : existing in posse : not manifest : potential
the perennial vitality latent in tradition — J.L.Lowes
the heat latent in firewood — Laurence Binyon
a small fraction of his latent capacities — Quincy Howe
in the first innovations the germs of all subsequent improvements were latent — Henry Orenstein
his sinister qualities, formerly latent , quickened into life — Thomas Hardy
all the latent brutality, degradation and stupidity of a small American mining or industrial town — H.F.West
the latent meaning of dreams — G.S.Blum
the vast resources said to be latent in the desert — Atlantic
b. : present or capable of living or developing in a host without producing visible symptoms of disease
some of the lily mosaics may survive for years as latent viruses in insusceptible strains
a latent virus of the red raspberry that is highly destructive to blackcaps
a latent infection
c. of a fingerprint : obtained at the scene of a crime and usually scarcely visible but capable of being developed for study
use a reading glass or common magnifying glass to search for latent prints — D.K.Fitch
2. : concealed , disguised
Synonyms:
dormant , quiescent , potential , abeyant , and in abeyance: latent applies to that which is submerged and not clearly apparent or certainly present to any but a most searching examination but may emerge and develop with effect and significance
the heat latent in coal — G.B.Shaw
a latent tenderness which breaks out at last in the story of Griseldis — J.R.Green
the latent uneasiness in Darnay's mind was roused to vigorous life by this letter — Charles Dickens
the theological passage of arms, which brought out all her latent antagonism to the prejudiced young pietist — Israel Zangwill
dormant indicates that which is quite inactive, as though sleeping, but which may be awakened later into significant activity or effect
though this strength pervaded every action of his, it seemed but the advertisement of a greater strength that lurked within, that lay dormant and no more than stirred from time to time, but which might arouse, at any moment, terrible and compelling — Jack London
that haunting fear of being drowned in a confined space which lies dormant in the mind of most seamen — F.W.Crofts
the purchasing power of workers newly employed revived demands dormant for many years and stimulated a gigantic outpouring of goods — Oscar Handlin
quiescent stresses the fact of inactivity at the time in question, without necessary implications of causes or of past or future activity
a flare-up in the now quiescent struggle between the two Chinas — New Republic
somewhat quiescent during the winter, the city takes on a new tempo with the coming of summer — American Guide Series: Michigan
simple insects, which we shall have to call collembolas, were difficult to capture. They leaped with agility many times their own length, and when quiescent looked like bits of fungus — William Beebe
potential applies to that which does not at the time under consideration have being, essence, character, or effect as indicated but which is likely in time to have that being or effect
thousands of people in rural districts who constitute a potential labor supply for new factories — American Guide Series: Virginia
yet such figures can be misleading in that they indicate potential rather than actual strength — D.W.Mitchell
if narcotic addiction is to be eliminated, the potential addicts must be reached before they are exposed — D.W.Maurer & V.H.Vogel
abeyant and the more common in abeyance indicate the fact of current inactivity, of not being used, implemented, caused, or allowed to function at the time under consideration
a lurking and abeyant fear — Edith Wharton
until all danger of counterrevolution should have been removed, personal rights and liberties would have to be kept strictly in abeyance — F.A.Ogg & Harold Zink
the union has put its strike threat in abeyance and evidently will stay on the job as long as government possession lasts — New York Times
II. noun
( -s )
: a latent fingerprint
compared the prints with those of the latents — Erle Stanley Gardner