Sleep \Sleep\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Slept; p. pr. & vb. n. Sleeping.]

[OE. slepen, AS. sl?pan; akin to OFries. sl?pa, OS. sl[=a]pan, D. slapen, OHG. sl[=a]fan, G. schlafen, Goth. sl?pan, and G. schlaff slack, loose, and L. labi to glide, slide, labare to totter. Cf. Lapse.]

1. To take rest by a suspension of the voluntary exercise of the powers of the body and mind, and an apathy of the organs of sense; to slumber. --Chaucer.

Watching at the head of these that sleep. --Milton.

2. Figuratively:
   (a) To be careless, inattentive, or uncouncerned; not to be vigilant; to live thoughtlessly.

We sleep over our happiness. --Atterbury.
   (b) To be dead; to lie in the grave.

Them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. --1 Thess. iv. 14.
   (c) To be, or appear to be, in repose; to be quiet; to be unemployed, unused, or unagitated; to rest; to lie dormant; as, a question sleeps for the present; the law sleeps.

How sweet the moonlight sleep upon this bank! --Shak.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

Sleeping \Sleep"ing\, a. & n. from Sleep.

Sleeping car, a railway car or carrriage, arranged with apartments and berths for sleeping.

Sleeping partner (Com.), a dormant partner. See under Dormant.

Sleeping table (Mining), a stationary inclined platform on which pulverized ore is washed; a kind of buddle.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)