Idleness
/ˈaɪ.dəl.nəs/noun
The state of being inactive or not engaged in work.
Did you know?In medieval times, idleness was often associated with sloth, one of the seven deadly sins, believed to invite misfortune and spiritual decay.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ei-
“to go or to be accustomed to, suggesting movement or action.”
Old English
Old English
ǣdel
“a term meaning noble, which also connotes being idle in the context of nobility's leisure.”
Middle English
Middle English
idel
“lacking in activity or effort; associated with laziness.”
14th Century
Middle English
idleness
“the quality of being inactive, often with a moral implication of neglect.”
Modern English
English
idleness
“the state of not working or being active, often viewed negatively.”