English

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Etymology

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From sleeping (dormant) +‎ power.

Pronunciation

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  • Audio (US):(file)

Noun

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sleeping power (plural sleeping powers)

  1. (politics, law, chiefly in the plural) A power which is unused, or which has not been exercised for a long time; especially one which is extensive, but little-known.
  2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see sleeping,‎ power.