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Where does the word "dormant" come from? It comes from Latin dormire, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
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Where does the word "dormant" come from? It comes from Latin dormire, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).
Dormant’s story begins in Latin: dormire meant “to sleep.” The root of 'dormitory'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as dormant. Present participle of 'dormir'. It reached English by 1300s as dormant. Heraldic lions 'dormant' are shown asleep. Today, dormant means temporarily inactive.
- Stage 1 · Latin · ancient dormire "to sleep", the root of 'dormitory'.
- Stage 2 · Old French · medieval dormant "sleeping", present participle of 'dormir'.
- Stage 3 · English · 1300s dormant "lying still", heraldic lions 'dormant' are shown asleep.