latent

latent
latently, adv.
/layt"nt/, adj.
1. present but not visible, apparent, or actualized; existing as potential: latent ability.
2. Pathol. (of an infectious agent or disease) remaining in an inactive or hidden phase; dormant.
3. Psychol. existing in unconscious or dormant form but potentially able to achieve expression: a latent emotion.
4. Bot. (of buds that are not externally manifest) dormant or undeveloped.
[1610-20; < L latent- (s. of latens) prp. of latere to lie hidden; see -ENT]
Syn. 1. dormant, quiescent, veiled, LATENT, POTENTIAL refer to powers or possibilities existing but hidden or not yet actualized. LATENT emphasizes the hidden character or the dormancy of what is named: latent qualities, defects, diseases. That which is POTENTIAL exists in an as yet undeveloped state, but is thought of as capable of coming into full being or activity at some future time: potential genius, tragedy. POTENTIAL may be applied also to tangibles: High-tension wires are a potential source of danger.
Ant. 1. open, active.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • latent — latent, ente [ latɑ̃, ɑ̃t ] adj. • 1361; lat. latens, de latere « être caché » 1 ♦ Qui demeure caché, ne se manifeste pas mais qui est susceptible de le faire à tout moment. ⇒ 1. secret. Conflit latent, qui couve. ⇒ larvé. Homosexualité latente.… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • latent — la·tent / lāt ənt/ adj: existing in hidden or dormant form but usu. capable of being brought to light compare patent Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam Webster. 1996 …   Law dictionary

  • latent — LATÉNT, Ă, latenţi, te, adj. Care există, dar nu se manifestă în exterior, putând izbucni oricând. – Din fr. latent, lat. latens, ntis. Trimis de LauraGellner, 24.03.2008. Sursa: DEX 98  LATÉNT adj. potenţial. (Energie latent.) Trimis de siveco …   Dicționar Român

  • Latent — La tent (l[=a] tent), a. [L. latens, entis, p. pr. of latere to lie hid or concealed; cf. Gr. lanqa nein, E. lethargy: cf. F. latent.] 1. Not visible or apparent; hidden; concealed; secret; dormant; as, latent springs of action. [1913 Webster]… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Latent — can refer to:* Latent heat, the amount of energy released or absorbed by a substance during a change of phase * A latent geologic fault * Latent bud, a bud in some plants that remains a bud until favourable conditions appear * Virus latency, the… …   Wikipedia

  • latent — Adj verborgen, nicht unmittelbar faßlich erw. fach. (18. Jh.) Entlehnung. Entlehnt aus l. latēns ( entis), dem PPräs. von l. latēre verborgen sein, versteckt sein .    Ebenso nndl. latent, ne. latent, nfrz. latent, nschw. latent, nnorw. latent. ✎ …   Etymologisches Wörterbuch der deutschen sprache

  • latent — latent, dormant, quiescent, potential, abeyant are comparable when meaning not now manifest or not evincing signs of existence or activity. Latent implies concealment and is applied to what is present without showing itself {latent energy} {a… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • latent — [lāt′ nt] adj. [L latens, prp. of latere, to lie hidden, lurk < IE * lāidh < base * lā , to be hidden > ON lōmr, deception, Gr lēthē, forgetfulness, lanthanein, to be hidden] 1. present but invisible or inactive; lying hidden and… …   English World dictionary

  • latent — latent, ente (la tan, tan t ) adj. 1°   Terme technique. Qui est caché. Chaleur latente, chaleur qui n est point sensible au thermomètre (voy. calorique).    Terme de médecine. Maladie latente, maladie dont le diagnostic est obscur, qui ne… …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • latent — UK US /ˈleɪtənt/ adjective [before noun] ► present, but not yet active, developed, or obvious: »latent capability/talent/skill …   Financial and business terms

  • latent — »vorhanden, aber noch nicht in Erscheinung tretend; versteckt, verborgen; ohne typische Merkmale (besonders von Krankheiten)«: Das Adjektiv wurde im 18. Jh. aus gleichbed. frz. latent entlehnt, das auf lat. latens (latentis), dem Part. Präs. von… …   Das Herkunftswörterbuch

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