quiescence

[ kwee-es-uhns, kwahy- ]

noun

1. quietness or stillness; inactivity or dormancy:

   After a year of apparent quiescence, the region’s cities have once again erupted into street demonstrations.

2. Biology, Medicine/Medical. the state of producing no symptoms; remission, as of a disease, tumor, or other disorder:

   Periodontal disease may be characterized by episodes of activity followed by periods of relative quiescence.

Word History and Origins

Origin of quiescence¹

First recorded in 1620–30; from Late Latin quiescentia “rest,” from Latin quiescent-, stem of quiescēns ( quiescent ( def ) ) + -ia ( def )

Example Sentences

So far, apart from the Never Trumpers, the reaction has been quiescence.

From Salon

In their new technique, however, the researchers found the signatures of autofluorescence can be used to study stem cells' dormant state, known as quiescence.

From Science Daily

"The quiescent state is very important, because the exit from quiescence is the rate-limiting step in making newborn neurons in the adult brain. Aging and neurological diseases limit this exit from quiescence, so we have a great need to study adult neural stem cells in their different cell states," says Darcie Moore, the senior author on the study, a professor of neuroscience and member of UW-Madison's Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Center.

From Science Daily

By focusing on light emitted by parts of the cell that change in key ways with quiescence, the researchers identified the light "signature" that matches a target cell state.

From Science Daily

Interestingly, retinoids did not operate on their own: their interplay with signaling molecules such as BMP and WNT influenced whether the stem cells should maintain quiescence or actively engage in regrowing hair.

From Science Daily