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.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)