Sluttishnesses

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The quality of being excessively lazy or indolent in demeanor
2. A state characterized by sluggishness or a lack of motivation to act
3. An attitude marked by a disinclination to exert effort or engage in activity

Etymology: "Sluttishnesses" is simply the plural of "sluttishness", so it is the form that counts the quality in more than one instance or in several different people or situations. The base word "sluttish" is an adjective built from "slut" plus the suffix "-ish", meaning "having the qualities of" or "somewhat like". The noun "sluttishness" adds "-ness", the common English suffix that turns adjectives into abstract nouns of quality, so "sluttish" becomes "the state of being sluttish." The noun entered English in Middle English, where it appeared in spellings such as "sluttysshenes" and "slwttisnes", and it was formed directly from the adjective plus "-ness" in the usual way. Its meaning in the sense given here, excessive laziness or indolence in manner, reflects the older sense of "slut" as a slovenly, untidy person, a usage that is far from the modern sexual sense the word now carries.

Synonyms: slovenliness, untidiness, disorderliness, messiness, sloppiness

Antonyms: neatness, tidiness, orderliness, cleanliness, perfection