Indolence
/ˈɪn.də.ləns/noun
Habitual laziness or a disposition to avoid work or exertion.
Did you know?Indolence comes from Latin *indolentia*, meaning “freedom from pain,” from *in-* “not” + *dolens* “feeling pain,” so the word began as relief, not laziness.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
indolentia
“freedom from pain; absence of suffering”
Late Latin
Latin
indolens
“not feeling pain; insensitive”
Old French
Old French
indolence
“freedom from pain; later, lack of effort or activity”
16th Century
English
indolence
“absence of pain; later, laziness or habitual inactivity”
Modern English
English
indolence
“habitual laziness or avoidance of exertion”