Crossword Genius

Not awake in resting-place with a book (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

dormant

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'not awake in' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are adjectives. Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?

'resting-place with a book' is the wordplay.
'resting place with' becomes 'dorma' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'a book' becomes 'NT' (New Testament).
'dorma'+'nt'='DORMANT'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for dormant that I've seen before include "Sluggish" , "Mordant about lying inactive" , "Inactive, but not dead" , "Inert" , "asleep" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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