la´tent|ly

la´tent|ly
la|tent «LAY tuhnt», adjective, noun.
–adj.
1. present but not active; hidden; concealed: »

latent hostility, latent ability. The power of a grain of wheat to grow into a plant remains latent if it is not planted.

2. present only in the undeveloped stage of an infection; not yet manifest: »

a test to reveal latent tuberculosis.

3. Botany. dormant or undeveloped: »

Buds are latent when they are not externally visible until stimulated to grow.

4. Psychology. forming part of the mental content or personality but not apparent in overt acts.
–n.
a fingerprint not readily visible to the eye: »

The police had to take many…latents which were found at the scene of the crime (Erle Stanley Gardner).

[< Latin latēns, -entis, present participle of latēre lie hidden]
la´tent|ly, adverb.
Synonym Study adjective. 1 Latent, potential mean existing as a possibility or fact, but not showing itself plainly. Latent means actually existing as a fact, but lying hidden, not active or plainly to be seen at the present time: »

An exertion of a latent genius (Edmund Burke).

Potential means existing as a possibility and capable of coming into actual existence or activity if nothing happens to stop development: »

That boy has great potential ability in science.


Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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