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quiescent: msg#00021

culture.language.word-of-the-day

Subject: quiescent

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The Word of the Day for August 22 is:

quiescent \kwy-ESS-unt\ adjective
*1 : marked by inactivity or repose : tranquilly at rest
2 : causing no trouble or symptoms

Example sentence:
The storm was over, and the quiescent waters betrayed no sign of
yesterday's turbulence.

Did you know?
"Quiescent" won't cause you any pain, and neither will its synonyms
"latent," "dormant," and "potential," at least not immediately. All four words
mean "not now showing signs of activity or existence." "Latent" usually applies
to something that has not yet come forth but may emerge and develop, as in "a
latent desire for success." "Dormant" implies a state of inactivity similar to
sleep, as in "their passions lay dormant." "Potential" applies to what may or
may not come to be. "A potential disaster" is a typical example. "Quiescent,"
which traces to the Latin "quiescere" (meaning "to become quiet" or "to rest"),
often suggests a temporary cessation of activity, as in "a quiescent disease"
or "a summer resort quiescent in wintertime."

*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.





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