Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1600-1700
Language: Latin
Origin: , present participle of latere 'to lie hidden'

latent

 adjective
     
la‧tent
something that is latent is present but hidden, and may develop or become more noticeable in the future [↪ dormant]
latent in
The virus remains latent in the body for many years.
latent aggression
—latency noun [uncountable]
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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