La"tent (lā"tent), a. [L.
latens, -entis, p. pr. of latere to lie hid or
concealed; cf. Gr. lanqa`nein, E. lethargy: cf. F.
latent.] Not visible or apparent; hidden; concealed;
secret; dormant; as, latent springs of action.
The evils latent in the most promising
contrivances are provided for as they arise.
Burke.
Latent buds (Bot.), buds which remain
undeveloped or dormant for a long time, but may at length grow.
Latent heat (Physics), that quantity of
heat which disappears or becomes concealed in a body while producing
some change in it other than rise of temperature, as fusion,
evaporation, or expansion, the quantity being constant for each
particular body and for each species of change. --
Latent period. (a) (Med.)
The regular time in which a disease is supposed to be existing
without manifesting itself. (b)
(Physiol.) One of the phases in a simple muscular
contraction, in which invisible preparatory changes are taking place
in the nerve and muscle. (c) (Biol.)
One of those periods or resting stages in the development of the
ovum, in which development is arrested prior to renewed
activity.