Edit page | Page history | Printable version

Dormant

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.