Hibernated

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Spent a period of inactivity or deep sleep during winter to conserve energy
2. Gone into a prolonged rest or dormancy typical of animals in cold seasons
3. Withdrawn into a state of minimal activity for survival through winter months

Etymology: "Hibernated" is the past tense of "hibernate," so its story is the story of the verb. The verb comes from Latin "hībernāre," meaning to pass the winter, and it was borrowed into English as "hibernate" directly from the Latin participle "hībernātus." That Latin root goes back to "hībernus," meaning "wintry," which is tied to the Latin word for winter, "hiems." Beyond the Latin lineage, the relevant detail is that the verb keeps the original sense closely: it describes spending the cold season in a dormant state, which is exactly what it still means when applied to animals.

Synonyms: dormant, sleeping

Antonyms: awakened, active