dormancy

[Fr. dormant, pr. par. of dormir = to sleep; Eng. suff. -cy.] 1. A state of sleep, or stupor. "To lie there in heavy dormancy." -Carlyle: Letters and Speeches of Cromwell, iii. 159. 2. The state of being dormant or inactive. "The dormancy of religious oppre ion, and the natural conclusion that the statutes complained of are not likely to be enforced, form in my mind no reason why they should be suffered to remain."-Bp. Horsley : Parl. Reg . xxvi. 258. dor-mant, a. & s. [Fr., pr. par. of dormir =to sleep.] IMG:content-0386.png:[graphic] A. As adjective: I. Ordinary Language: 1. Literally: (1) Asleep, sleeping. "With this radius he is said to strike and kill his prey, for which he lies, as it were, dormant , till it swims within his reach."-Grew: Musœит. (2) Torpid: as a hibernating animal. 2. Figuratively: pre ed, subsided. (1) Allowed to rest, or cease to act; quieted, re "He a dragon!. I can insure his anger dormant." Congreve : Old Bachelor , i. 1. (2) Inactive, in a state of inaction. "The law of nature is active in some things, but dor mant in others."- Bates : Divinity of the Christian Religion, ch. ii. (3) Neglected, not a erted or claimed; as, a dor mant peerage. "It would be prudent to reserve these privileges dor mant ."- Swift . *(4) Private, not public. "There were other dormant musters of soldiers through. out all parts of the realm."- Bacon : War with Spain . ) Fixed, stationary, not movable. "His table dormant in his halle alway Stood redy." Chaucer: C. 7., 355. II. Her .: In a sleeping posture. B. As substantive : 1. Carp .: A large beam lying acro the ceiling of a room, and serving as a joist. Also called a Dormond, Dorman-tree, or Dormant-tree. "Ropes the dormant to 'd Now out, now in; now back, now forward cast." Fairfax: Ta o. 2. Cook .: A dish which remains on the table dur ing the whole time of the meal, such as cold pies, hams, . 3. Build .: A dormer window (q. v.).