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adj. 1. a. Sluggish, lethargic, or inactive: "It is a man's own fault, it is from want of use, if his mind grows torpid in old age" (Samuel Johnson). b. Showing little interest; apathetic: a torpid audience. 2. Conducive to sluggishness or inactivity, especially in being warm and humid: a torpid summer evening. 3. Dormant; hibernating. [Latin torpidus, numbed, paralyzed, from torpēre, to be stiff; see ster-1 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] tor·pidi·ty (-ĭ-tē) adv. torpid·ly adv. |
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