"Idle": word meaning, origin and application

A holiday is a magnificent celebration when a group of people gathers in honor of a memorable event or date. The atmosphere of cheerful mood does not last long, ending before working days. True, some representatives of humanity prefer to relax for weeks, months or several years. So, it is advisable to consider the meaning of the word "idle" in order to understand the difference between short and long fun.

Etymology

The expression is deciphered in different ways. Turning to the dictionary of G.A. Krylov, one can systematize the meaning of the phrase:

  • Living idle, permanent or temporary work.
  • Useless, aimless, not ambitious.
  • Living for pleasure, in the comfort zone.
  • An empty person who does not have a certain occupation.
  • The loafer.
Mouse prefers sleep

Depending on the context, the word "idle" means that a person or action has no chance of success. They are empty and will fail. For example, โ€œA former employee stopped attending a book club and became lazy in idle life.โ€

Historical roots

The origin of the word is associated with the old Russian adjective "empty", which was called a person without household chores, without employment and occupation. Over time, when the term passed into the Old Slavonic language, it acquired a second meaning - a holiday. The interpretation of the concept has been preserved at the present time.

Hanging out at home with your favorite things

The meaning of the word "idle" reached its usual form only in the Slavic writing due to the creation of vocabulary by Cyril and Methodius. The modified suffix added to the converted phrase meant โ€œburst, crackโ€, which hinted at the moral emptiness of a person in a negative context.

Speech use

The modern designation has not changed. It is used as an adjective to people who prefer their own amenities higher than the regular performance of everyday things - work, employment, hobbies, improvement.

Synonyms of "idleness" in speech can serve as:

  • Laziness.
  • Indifference to activity.
  • Apathy.
  • Inaction at work.
Watching TV on weekdays

Attitude to free time is different. Some attribute idleness to a positive aspect, since it allows you to take a break, gain strength, reflect on difficult situations and weakens the significance of problems. Others react negatively, believing that a person is obliged to work, develop and relax less so as not to lose social and professional skills.

So, โ€œidleโ€ is used in relation to loafers who are indifferent to activities, preferring not to part with their own comfort for a long time.


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