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The Collaborative International Dictionary
Sedentary spider

Sedentary \Sed"en*ta*ry\, a. [L. sedentarius, fr. sedere to sit: cf. F. se['e]dentaire. See Sedent.]

  1. Accustomed to sit much or long; as, a sedentary man. ``Sedentary, scholastic sophists.''
    --Bp. Warburton.

  2. Characterized by, or requiring, much sitting; as, a sedentary employment; a sedentary life.

    Any education that confined itself to sedentary pursuits was essentially imperfect.
    --Beaconsfield.

  3. Inactive; motionless; sluggish; hence, calm; tranquil. [R.] ``The sedentary earth.''
    --Milton.

    The soul, considered abstractly from its passions, is of a remiss, sedentary nature.
    --Spectator.

  4. Caused by long sitting. [Obs.] ``Sedentary numbness.''
    --Milton.

  5. (Zo["o]l.) Remaining in one place, especially when firmly attached to some object; as, the oyster is a sedentary mollusk; the barnacles are sedentary crustaceans.

    Sedentary spider (Zo["o]l.), one of a tribe of spiders which rest motionless until their prey is caught in their web.