Estivation
/ˌɛstɪˈveɪʃən/noun
A state of dormancy or reduced activity that animals enter during hot or dry periods, or the arrangement of floral parts in a bud.
Did you know?The word comes from Latin roots connected with summer heat and ultimately with an ancient Indo-European root meaning “to burn,” linking seasonal dormancy to the language of fire.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*aidh-
“To burn or kindle; the reconstructed root associated with fire and heat.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
aithō
“I burn, blaze, or kindle; source of words connected with burning brightness.”
Classical Latin
Latin
aestas
“Summer, especially the season of heat.”
Classical Latin
Latin
aestivus
“Of or belonging to summer.”
Late Latin
Latin
aestivatio
“A spending of the summer or summering.”
19th Century
English
estivation
“Dormancy during hot or dry conditions; later also floral arrangement in a bud.”