What does laten mean?
Laten is an uncommon verb meaning to become latent, dormant, or inactive. It describes something that was once visible or active but subsequently disappears from view or effect without necessarily ceasing to exist. For example, a controversy may laten after its initial outbreak and later return to public attention. The word is literary and somewhat archaic, so in ordinary modern English “become dormant” or “become latent” will usually sound more natural. Its unusual history is also instructive: it comes through Latin from a word associated with lying hidden. Although the verb is now marginal in everyday use, it remains precise in contexts where something is temporarily concealed, suspended, or waiting to become apparent again. Laten should not be confused with the more familiar adjective latent, which describes something that exists but is not currently apparent or active.
verbTo become latent; to cease to be apparent, active, or effective.
- To become latent or dormant; to cease to be apparent or active.
"The dispute lated for years before it was brought before the court."
"The problem did not disappear; it merely lated while the country recovered from the crisis."
"Researchers were surprised to see the signal laten after the initial surge of activity."
Laten means to slip into hiding: the word has been used since the early 17th century for something that becomes dormant, concealed, or temporarily inactive.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does laten come from?
Laten entered English in the early 17th century from Latin latere, “to lie hidden.” The same Latin source also produced the English adjective latent. In English, laten came to describe a process: something becomes concealed, dormant, or ineffective, rather than simply possessing the adjective quality of being latent.
Related word forms
How laten is actually used
This is a rare, literary, and somewhat archaic verb. In modern English, it is much more usual to say that something becomes dormant, hidden, or latent.