Hibernation
/ˌhaɪ.bərˈneɪ.ʃən/noun
A state of prolonged dormancy in animals during winter.
Did you know?Hibernation comes from Latin hibernare, “to spend the winter,” from hibernus, “of winter,” ultimately tied to the same Indo-European root behind words for winter and cold season.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ǵʰey-
“winter, to spend the winter”
Latin
Latin
hibernus
“of winter, wintry”
Latin
Latin
hibernare
“to pass the winter, winter quarters”
Late Latin
Latin
hibernatio
“a wintering, the act of passing the winter”
14th Century
English
hibernacioun
“a winter residence or wintering”
Modern English
English
hibernation
“a state of prolonged dormancy during winter”