quiescent
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Pronunciation: ipa: /kwaɪˈɛsənt/
ipa: /kwiˈɛsənt/
ipa: [kwaɪ̯ˈɛsn̩t]
ipa: [kwiˈɛsn̩t]
rhymes: -ɛsənt
Forms: form: more quiescent
form: most quiescent
Etymology: Learned borrowing from Latin quiēscēns, quiēscentem.
Senses: examples: text: The bats were quiescent at that time of day, so we slowly entered the cave.
text: In times of national security, the feeling of Patriotism among the masses is so quiescent that it seems hardly to exist—in their case national glory or national danger awakens it, and it leaps up armed cap-a-pie.
ref: 1840, John Wilson, “On the Genius and Character of Burns”, in John Wilson; Robert Chambers, The Land of Burns, a Series of Landscapes and Portraits, Illustrative of the Life and Writings of the Scottish Poet. The Landscapes from Paintings made Expressly for the Work, by D[avid] O[ctavius] Hill, Esq., R.S.A. The Literary Department, by Professor Wilson, of the University of Edinburgh; and Robert Chambers, Esq., Author of the “Scottish Biographical Dictionary,” “Picture of Scotland,” Etc. Etc., volume II, 2nd edition, Glasgow: Blackie & Son, Queen Street, Glasgow; South College Street, Edinburgh; and Warwick Square, London, OCLC 314762618, page ci
text: Movement was then observed in a part of the wall which had been quiescent, and another group of struts was therefore constructed, again during traffic hours as well as at night.
ref: 1955 February, “Notes and News: Arresting an Earth Slip at Uxbridge”, in Railway Magazine, page 138:
text: After all, nations are pouring massive resources into military applications of AI, and many citizens don’t know or don’t care. Yet that quiescent attitude may change over time, as the domestic use of AI surveillance ratchets up, and that technology is increasingly identified with shadowy apparatuses of control, rather than democratically accountable local powers.
ref: 2020 October 15, Frank Pasquale, “‘Machines set loose to slaughter’: the dangerous rise of military AI”, in The Guardian:
text: “It's like the opposite of punk, isn't it?” he said jokingly in 2016 while discussing his influence on other musicians. “I've subdued a generation.” But [James] Blake is not so quiescent after all.
ref: 2025 June 14, Ludovic Hunter-Tilney, “James Blake's fight against ‘free music’”, in FT Weekend, Life & Arts, page 12:
synonyms: word: dormant
word: torpid
word: abeyant
word: at rest
word: cessant
word: dormant
word: dull
word: fallow
word: idle
word: inactive
word: inert
word: languid
word: latent
word: nonactive
word: quiescent
word: silent
word: sedent
word: sedentary
word: slow
word: suspended
word: torpid
word: unactive
word: unbusy
word: unemployed
word: unoccupied
word: calm
word: still
word: tranquil
word: calm
word: collected
word: composed
word: cool-headed
word: equable
word: equanimous
word: equanimitable
word: even-keeled
word: even-minded
word: even-tempered
word: imperturbable
word: laid-back
word: level-headed
word: mellow
word: pacate
word: pacific
word: peaceable
word: peaceful
word: phlegmatic
word: placid
word: quiescent
word: quiet
word: relaxed
word: roolie
word: sedate
word: serene
word: still
word: tranquil
word: unexcited
word: unfazed
word: unflappable
word: unflustered
word: unperturbable
word: unruffable
word: unruffled
word: untumultuous
glosses: Inactive, quiet, at rest.
examples: text: The k is quiescent in "knight" and "know".
topics: communications
journalism
literature
media
orthography
publishing
writing
synonyms: servile
glosses: Not sounded; silent.
topics: biology
cytology
medicine
natural-sciences
sciences
glosses: Non-proliferating.
Derived terms: quiescence
quiescently
Related terms: acquiescent
quiesce