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Not visible or apparent; hidden; springs of action. The evils latent in the most promising contrivances are provided for as they arise. Burke. Latent buds (bot.), buds which remain undeveloped or dormant for a long time, but may at length grow. Latent heat (Physics), that quantity of heat which disappears or becomes co…

al. [R.] "My latter gasp." Shak. Latter harvest, the last part of the harvest. -- Latter spring, the last part of the spring of the year. Shak.

An old dance, for two persons, being a kind of waltz, in which the woman made a high spring or bound. Shak.

through a crack, fissure, or other aperture; as, the leak gained on the ship's pumps. To spring a leak, to open or crack so as to let in water; to begin to let in water; as, the ship sprung a leak.

To spring clear of the ground, with the feet; to jump; to vault; as, a man leaps over a fence, or leaps upon a horse. Bacon. Leap in with me into this angry flood. Shak.

the daffodil; -- so named from its blossoming in spring.

he earth, to which wild animals resort to lick it up; -- often, but not always, near salt springs. [U. S.]

In Gothic vaulting, any rib which does not spring from the impost and is not a ridge rib, but passes from one boss or intersection of the principal ribs to another.

Life; existence. O, spring to light, auspicious Babe, be born ! Pope.

Having a light, springy step; nimble in running or dancing; active; as, light-foot Iris. Tennyson.

Characterized by clearness or transparency; clear; as, a limpid stream. Springs which were clear, fresh, and limpid. Woodward.

ine; the line of descent; the male line; a line of kings. Of his lineage am I, and his offspring By very line, as of the stock real. Chaucer.

Descent in a line from a common progenitor; progeny; race; descending line of offspring or ascending line of parentage. Both the lineage and the certain sire From which I sprung, from me are hidden yet. Spenser.

Issuing continually from the earth; running; flowing; as, a living spring; -- opposed to stagnant.

A small lock; a catch or spring to fasten a necklace or other ornament.

e Egyptians; priestly lore; legal lore; folklore. "The lore of war." Fairfax. His fair offspring, nursed in princely lore. Milton.

d furniture or other lumber is kept. [U.S.] -- Lumber wagon, a heavy rough wagon, without springs, used for general farmwork, etc.

ar or segmental form; especially, the piece of wall between the curves of a vault and its springing line.

A spring of water; hence, water, or a pure, transparent liquid like water. A fountain bubbled up, whose lymph serene Nothing of earthly mixture might distain. Trench.

a closed tube with mercury or other liquid intervening, or in bending a metallic or other spring so as to set in motion an index; a pressure gauge. See Pressure, and Illust. of Air pump.