\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.