Both Uses of
latent
in
A Christmas Carol
- Not a latent echo in the house, not a squeak and scuffle from the mice behind the panelling, not a drip from the half-thawed water-spout in the dull yard behind, not a sigh among the leafless boughs of one despondent poplar, not the idle swinging of an empty store-house door, no, not a clicking in the fire, but fell upon the heart of Scrooge with a softening influence, and gave a freer passage to his tears.
Chpt 2latent = unheard but existing
- But nothing doubting that they had some latent moral for his own improvement, he resolved to treasure up every word he heard, and everything he saw;
Chpt 4 *latent = existing but not presently active
Definition:
-
(latent) potentially existing but not presently evident or active