Indisposed

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Feeling slightly sick or unwell; not willing or able to do something at the moment
2. Experiencing mild illness or discomfort; lacking the desire or capacity to act or participate
3. Being somewhat ill or off health; temporarily reluctant or incapable of engaging in an activity

Etymology: "Indisposed" is a plain formation: the prefix "in-", meaning "not," joined to "disposed." The prefix comes from Latin "in-," which English inherited through Middle English, and the Proto-Indo-European root behind it is a negative particle shared with many other languages. The prefix is attached to "disposed," the past participle of "dispose," so the word literally means "not disposed" or "not inclined." That sense of inclination explains the modern meanings. To be "disposed" to something was to be inclined or willing toward it, so being "indisposed" meant being unwilling or unable to take part in an activity. The sense of physical unease came later, as "indisposed" came to describe a body that was not in its usual condition, leaving the word with both a mental and a bodily meaning in use today.

Synonyms: unwell, ill, sick, unfit, disabled

Antonyms: well, healthy, fit, strong, capable