hibernate
UK: ˈhaɪbəneɪt | US: ˈhaɪbərneɪt
vi. 1. (of animals) to spend the winter in a dormant state
vi. 2. (figuratively) to remain inactive or in seclusion
hibernate = hibern<winter> + ate<verb suffix>
- hibern (from Latin hibernus, meaning "winter")
- ate (a verb-forming suffix indicating action or process)
Etymology Origin:
The word hibernate traces back to Latin hibernare ("to winter"), derived from hibernus ("winter"). It originally described animals passing the winter in a dormant state to survive harsh conditions. Over time, it gained figurative use for human inactivity or retreat. The morpheme hibern preserves the seasonal connotation, while -ate marks it as a verb.
Bears hibernate in caves during the coldest months.
Some reptiles hibernate underground to conserve energy.
After the project ended, the team seemed to hibernate for weeks.
The software goes into hibernate mode to save battery life.
Ancient humans may have hibernated in winter, according to recent studies.