dormant English · revision 1906

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈdɔːmənt/ ''(UK)''; /ˈdoɹmənt/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It comes from Middle English ''dormaunt'',^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[der|fro|dormant]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) present participle of ''dormir'' “to sleep”,^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[der|la|dormire|t=to sleep]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) It is related to [[dormitory]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Fixed in place, stationary, as of a table fixed to the floor (c. 1386 in the OED; about 1387–95 in Barnhart).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In [[heraldry]] the word described a beast lying asleep with its head on its forepaws (c. 1500).^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) The general sense of being at rest or inactive is from about 1600,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and the sense “sleeping, asleep” from the 1620s.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) Etymonline dates its use of volcanoes to 1760.^(Etymonline) In biology it describes animals and plants whose activity or growth is suspended.^(OED 1989)^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1386 – fixed, stationary.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * c. 1500 – ''(heraldry)'' lying asleep.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1601 – inactive, in abeyance.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1623 – sleeping.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1760 – of volcanoes.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1772 – of animals, with life suspended.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Asleep or as if asleep; inactive.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # [[latent|alt=Latent]] but able to become active.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+ # Of a [[volcano]], not erupting but not [[extinct]].^(RHWU)^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(biology)'' In a resting state, with growth and many [[metabolism|alt=metabolic]] processes suspended.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+ # ''(heraldry)'' Shown lying asleep with the head on the forepaws.^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[dormancy]]

+ * [[nondormant]]

+ * [[semidormant]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[dorm]]

+ * [[dormitory]]

+ * [[dormer]]

+ * [[dormouse]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}