a. (sb.) [ad. L. latitant-em, pr. pple. of latitāre to lie hid.] That lies concealed or hid; lurking; latent; (of an animal) hibernating.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., III. xxi. 163. Lizards, Snails, and divers other insects latitant many moneths in the year.
1650. Charleton, Paradoxes, 77. In the outward man … the Magicall power is latitant.
1650. Bulwer, Anthropomet. (1653), 264. The Latitant effect is supposed greater than indeed it is, which had not been so much suspected had she not painted her selfe.
1660. Boyle, New Exp. Phys. Mech., xvii. 128. By forcing the small latitant bubbles of Air to disclose themselves and break.
1660. H. More, Myst. Godl., To Rdr. 20. Some latitant averseness or enmity to Religion it self. Ibid. (1682), Annot. Glanvill’s Lux O., 81. That facultie or measure of it in their Plastick, essentially latitant there.
b. sb. One who is in hiding. (Cf. next word.)
1887. Edin. Rev., July, 146. Leaving him in the position of a latitant from justice.
