SEDENTARY


Meaning of SEDENTARY in English

-rē, -ri adjective

Etymology: Middle French sedentaire, from Latin sedentarius of one that sits, sedentary, from sedent-, sedens (present participle of sedēre to sit) + -arius -ary — more at sit

1.

a. : staying in one or the same place : not migratory : stationary , settled

sedentary birds

a sedentary tribe

b. : of, relating to, or characteristic of sedentes

sedentary culture

c. usually capitalized : of or belonging to a period of development of the Hohokam culture about A.D. 900 to 1000 that precedes the Classic and is characterized by settled villages

2.

a. : characterized by or requiring sitting or slight activity

for sedentary relaxation he is likely to listen to music — Current Biography

b. : accustomed to sit much or long

we think of the lawyer, teacher, and bookkeeper as sedentary — L.A.Sylvester

c. obsolete : lazy , inactive

3. : permanently attached

the sedentary oyster

sedentary barnacles

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.