A WORD A DAY.
LATENT. This adjective is used to express the thought of “lying hid, concealed,” being derived from the Latin latere, “to lie hid.” “Dormant” is often given as a synonym for “latent,” but there is this discrimination: the former may be applied to that which is present—as a sleeping' person—without manifesting activity; the latter designates that which is present without showing itself, as, “Dante often has a latent meaning by the side of an evident one.” “Potential” is also regarded as very close in meaning; but we must observe that this word is properly applied to that which exists in possibility, not in actuality. La-tent is accented on the first syllable; sound as in gate, e as in recent. “His latent musical ability made him a potential grand opera star.”
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Bibliographic details
Southland Times, Issue 21770, 27 July 1932, Page 8
Word Count
133A WORD A DAY. Southland Times, Issue 21770, 27 July 1932, Page 8
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