latent

C1 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈleɪ.tənt/ See IPA manual

Freq #22232

Meanings

1

adj
Present but hidden or not yet active, with the potential to appear later.

The training is designed to bring out each student's latent talent.
2

adj
(of a disease) present in the body but not yet causing symptoms.

The virus can remain latent for years before suddenly flaring up.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · present but hidden or not... hidden dormant inactive

2 adj · (of a disease) present in... dormant

Word family

Derived forms antilatentlatencylatensificationlatentlylatentnesssemilatent

Appears in

Phrases (2)

See all

Simplified etymology

Latent entered English in the late Middle English period from Latin latere, meaning “to be hidden.”

Etymology

From Middle English latent, latente, from Old French latent, from Latin latēns, present participle of lateō (“lie hidden”).

*leh₂- Proto-Indo-European latent Middle English latēns Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# latent

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˈleɪ.tənt/
**Frequency rank:** 22232

## Meanings
1. Present but hidden or not yet active, with the potential to appear later.
2. (of a disease) present in the body but not yet causing symptoms.

## Examples
- The training is designed to bring out each student's latent talent.
- The virus can remain latent for years before suddenly flaring up.

## Derived Forms
- antilatent
- latency
- latensification
- latently
- latentness
- semilatent

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *leh₂-
- Root: latent
- Root: latēns

## Etymology
From Middle English latent, latente, from Old French latent, from Latin latēns, present participle of lateō (“lie hidden”).

## AI Etymology
Latent is from Middle English latent, latente, from Old French latent, from Latin latēns, present participle of lateō (“lie hidden”). In present-day use, it can mean present but hidden or not yet active, with the potential to appear later, or present in the body but not yet causing symptoms. Derived formations include antilatent, latency, latensification, latently, and latentness.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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