dictionary help| dormant | medical dictionary |
A large beam in the roof of a house upon which portions of the other timbers rest or " sleep." . Called also dormant tree, dorman tree, dormond, and dormer.
See: Dormant.
1. Sleeping; as, a dormant animal; hence, not in action or exercise; quiescent; at rest; in abeyance; not disclosed, asserted, or insisted on; as, dormant passions; dormant claims or titles. "It is by lying dormant a long time, or being . . . Very rarely exercised, that arbitrary power steals upon a people." (Burke)
2. In a sleeping posture; as, a lion dormant; distinguished from couchant. Dormant partner, a dormer window. See Dormer. Table dormant, a stationary table.
Origin: F, p. Pr. Of dormir to sleep, from L. Dormire; cf. Gr, Skr. Dra, OSlav. Drmati.
(01 Mar 1998)
doris, Dorito Syndrome, dorking fowl, dormancy < Prev | Next > dormitive, dormouse, dorn, dornase
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