latency (n.)

1630s, "condition of being concealed, unobserved existence," from latent + abstract noun suffix -cy. Meaning "delay between stimulus and response" is from 1882 (perhaps via the notion of "dormancy"); computer sense (latency time) is from 1954.

Entries linking to latency

latent (adj.)

mid-15c., "concealed, secret," from Latin latentem (nominative latens) "lying hid, concealed, secret, unknown," present participle of latere "lie hidden, lurk, be concealed," from PIE *late-, suffixed form of root *lādh- "to be hidden" (source also of Greek lēthē "forgetfulness, oblivion," lēthargos "forgetful," lathre "secretly, by stealth," lathrios "stealthy," lanthanein "to be hidden;" Old Church Slavonic lajati "to lie in wait for"). Meaning "dormant, undeveloped" is from 1680s, originally in medicine.

-cy

abstract noun suffix of quality or rank, from Latin -cia, -tia, from Greek -kia, -tia, from abstract ending -ia (see -ia) + stem ending -c- or -t-. The native correspondents are -ship, -hood.

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Definitions of latency

latency (n.)

(computer science) the time it takes for a specific block of data on a data track to rotate around to the read/write head;

Synonyms: rotational latency

latency (n.)

the time that elapses between a stimulus and the response to it;

Synonyms: reaction time / response time / latent period

latency (n.)

the state of being not yet evident or active;

From wordnet.princeton.edu

Dictionary entries near latency

latch-key

late

latebrous

lateen

lately

latency

lateness

latent

later

-later

lateral