alive but in a resting torpid condition with suspended growth and reduced metabolism
5. (usually postpositive) heraldry
(of a beast) in a sleeping position
Compare active, passive
dormient in American English
(ˈdɔrmiənt)
adjective
sleeping; dormant
Word origin
[1635–45; ‹ L dormient- (s. of dormiēns, prp. of dormīre), equiv. to dormi- sleep + -ent--ent]This word is first recorded in the period 1635–45. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: coordinate, domesticate, gradient, linear, recruit-ent is a suffix, equivalent to -ant, appearing in nouns and adjectives of Latin origin. Other words that use the affix-ent include: accident, different