I am a mathematics student, and am quite new to the whole control and system theory (haven't heard any lectures). I currently work with dynamic systems, but do not know the correct words for every attribute, yet. I would like to describe a system as follows:
A system is in "rest" until time $t=t_0$ for some $t_0\in\mathbb{R}$ if the system response $y(t<t_0)$ and the state $x(t<t_0)$ are equivalent to $0$ for zero input $u(t<t_0) \equiv 0$.
I am quite sure, that there is a word describing this scenario. I know the term causal in terms of systems, but I don't think this is the word I need.
EDIT: To maybe make it more clear what i want: I want to say "A system is in XXXX, when for zero input there is zero output." (~the system does nothing before any input is applied)