Lewis & Short

lătĕo, ŭi, 2, v. n. [Sanscr. root rah-, forsake; rahas, loneliness, concealment; Gr. ΛΑΘ λανθάνω], to lurk, be or lie hid or concealed, to skulk (class.).

  1. I. Lit.
    1. A. In gen.: ubi sunt, ubi latent, Plaut. Ps. 1, 2, 69: cochleae in occulto latent, id. Capt. 1, 1, 12; cf. Cic. Rab. Perd. 7, 21: occulte, id. Agr. 2, 16, 41: clam, Ov. R. Am. 437: abdite, Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 73, § 181: in tenebris, id. Q. Fr. 1, 1, 2, § 9: sub nomine pacis bellum latet, id. Phil. 12, 7, 17: scelus latet inter tot flagitia, id. Rosc. Am. 40, 118: non latuit scintilla ingenii, id. Rep. 2, 21, 37; 40, 67: naves latent portu, Hor. Epod. 9, 19; cf.: tuta arce, Verg. A. 10, 805.
      Prov.: latet anguis in herba, Verg. E. 3, 93.
    2. B. In partic.
      1. 1. To be hidden, to be in safety: sub umbra amicitiae Romae, Liv. 34, 9, 10; Phaedr. 4, 5, 13: sub illius umbra Philotas latebam, lurked, Curt. 6, 10, 22.
      2. 2. Jurid., to lie hid, keep out of sight, in order not to appear before court, Cic. Quint. 23, 74.
  2. II. Trop.
    1. A. In gen., to live in concealment, to live retired (rare): crede mihi, bene qui latuit, bene vixit, to lead a retired or quiet life, Ov. Tr. 3, 4, 25.
    2. B. In partic., analog. to the Gr. λανθάνειν, res latet, to be concealed from, be unknown to one.
          1. (α) with acc. (mostly poet. and in post-Aug. prose; not in Cic.; cf.: fugit me, praeterit me, etc.): latet plerosque, siderum ignes esse, etc., Plin. 2, 20, 18, § 82: nec latuere doli fratrem Junonis, Verg. A. 1, 130: nil illum latet, Ov. P. 4, 9, 126: res Eumenem non latuit, Just. 13, 8, 6; 31, 2, 2: semen duplex, unum, quod latet nostrum sensum, alterum, quod apertum, Varr. R. R. 1, 40.
          2. (β) With dat.: quae et oculis et auribus latere soleant, Varr. L. L. 9, § 92 Müll.: ubi nobis haec auctoritas tamdiu tanta latuit? Cic. Red. in Sen. 6, 13: hostique propinquo Roma latet, Sil. 12, 614.
          3. (γ) Absol., to be concealed or obscure, to be unknown: earum causarum aliae sunt perspicuae, aliae latent, Cic. Top. 17, 63: cum laterent hae partes (sc. Galliae), Amm. 15, 11, 1: quae tantum accenderit ignem, Causa latet, Verg. A. 5, 5: id qua ratione consecutus sit, latet, Nep. Lys. 1.
            Hence, lătens, entis, P. a., lying hid, hidden, concealed, secret, unknown: saxa latentia, Verg. A. 1, 108: junctura, Plin. 13, 15, 29, § 93: rem latentem explicare definiendo, Cic. Brut. 41, 152: animus in aegro corpore, Juv. 9, 18: causas tentare latentes, Verg. A. 3, 32: Tarquinius mandata latentia nati accipit, Ov. F. 2, 705.
            Comp.: latentior origo, Aug. de Gen. ad Litt. 12, 18: caussa, id. Civ. Dei, 5, 19.
            Absol.: in latenti, in secret, secretly, Dig. 1, 2, 2.
            Hence, adv.: lătenter, in secret, secretly, privately: efficere, Cic. Top. 17, 63: amare, Ov. P. 3, 6, 59: intellegere ex aliqua re, Gell. 2, 18 fin.