latently

Variant of latent

latent definition

la·tent (lāt'nt)

adjective

  1. present but invisible or inactive; lying hidden and undeveloped within a person or thing, as a quality or power
  2. Biol. dormant but capable of normal development under the best conditions: said of buds, spores, cocoons, etc.
  3. Psychol. unconsciously but not actively so a latent homosexual

Etymology: 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

noun

a fingerprint found on an object as at the scene of a crime

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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