Indolences

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A lack of interest or concern leading to inactivity and laziness
2. the state of being unmotivated or unwilling to exert effort
3. a condition marked by an indulgence in leisure or avoidance of responsibilities

Etymology: "Indolences" is simply the plural of "indolence," so the core story belongs to the singular. The most striking twist is that Latin "indolentia" meant "freedom from pain," not idleness. It was built from "in-" meaning "not" and "dolēns," the present participle of "doleō," meaning "to hurt, suffer, or grieve." The pain-free sense is the original one, so a word now tied to lounging about began as a term for being spared suffering. The path to our modern meaning ran through Middle French "indolence," which English borrowed. Over time the emphasis moved from absence of pain toward a lack of concern or effort, and that shift is what lets "indolence" describe a languid, unhurried disposition today. The plural form simply counts separate instances or kinds of that state.

Synonyms: laziness, sloth, idleness

Antonyms: diligence, industry