Dormant

a. [Fr., p. pr. of dormir, to sleep, Sp. & Pr. dormir, It. & Lat. dormire.] 1. Sleeping; as, a dormant animal or person; hence, not in action or exercise; quiescent; at rest; not disclosed, asserted, or insisted on; as, dormant passions; dormant claims or titles. It is by lying dormant a long time, or being . . . very rarely exercised, that arbitrary power steals upon a people. Burke. 2. (Her.) In a sleeping posture; as, a lion dormant. Dormant partner (Com.), a partner who takes no share in the active business of a company or partnership, but is entitled to a share of the profits, and subject to a share in losses;—called also sleeping or silent partner.—Dormant window, a dormer window. See DORMER.

n. [L. Lat. dormitor, a large beam or sleeper.] (Arch.) The large beam lying across a room; a joist;—called also dormant-tree, dormond, and dormer. Halliwell.