latent

adjective

1. present but not visible, apparent, or actualized; existing as potential: latent ability.
2. Pathology. (of an infectious agent or disease) remaining in an inactive or hidden phase; dormant.
3. Psychology. existing in unconscious or dormant form but potentially able to achieve expression: a latent emotion.
4. Botany. (of buds that are not externally manifest) dormant or undeveloped.

adjective

1. potential but not obvious or explicit
2. (of buds, spores, etc) dormant
3. pathol (esp of an infectious disease) not yet revealed or manifest
4. (of a virus) inactive in the host cell, its nucleic acid being integrated into, and replicated with, the host cell’s DNA
5. psychoanal relating to that part of a dream expressive of repressed desireslatent content Compare manifest (def. 2)

adj.mid-15c., “concealed, secret,” from Latin latentem (nominative latens) “lying hid, secret, unknown,” present participle of latere “to lie hidden,” from PIE *laidh-, from root *la- “to be hidden” (cf. Greek lethe “forgetfulness, oblivion,” Old Church Slavonic lajati “to lie in wait for”). Meaning “dormant” is from 1680s. adj.

1. Present or potential but not evident or active.
2. In a dormant or hidden stage, as an infection.
3. Undeveloped but capable of normal growth under the proper conditions.
4. Present in the unconscious mind but not consciously expressed.