Sloth: A Dictionary for the Lazy Read online

  loafer

  (LOH-fer)

  NOUN: An idle person; someone who wastes time.

  loath

  (lohth)

  ADJECTIVE: Unwilling to or wary of doing something.

  Ivan was LOATH to do any real work and stood by watching while the rest of the volunteers shoveled snow.

  logy

  (LOH-gee)

  ADJECTIVE: Sluggish and unenthusiastic.

  loiter

  (LOY-ter)

  VERB: To waste time or remain in one place without any specific purpose; dally.

  loll

  (lol)

  VERB: To recline in a lazy fashion; lounge.

  lollygagger

  (LOL-ee-gag-er)

  NOUN: One who loiters or wastes time, often doing something more fun than what he or she should be doing.

  looby

  (loo-bee)

  NOUN: An awkward, lazy person; lout.

  When I called you a LOOBY, it was because you were trying so hard to avoid helping me move this furniture.

  lotus eater

  (LOH-tuhs ee-ter)

  NOUN: From Greek mythology, lotus eater has come to describe a daydreamer; someone who doesn’t quite live in reality.

  lounger

  (LOUN-jer)

  NOUN: A person who behaves in an extremely relaxed manner.

  lout

  (lout)

  NOUN: A classless, ill-mannered individual; a hoodlum.

  lubber

  (LUHB-er)

  NOUN: An awkward, unintelligent person; looby.

  lummox

  (LUHM-uhks)

  NOUN: An unintelligent or dim-witted person.

  Leonard was often called a LUMMOX when he was the last to get the joke.

  lumpish

  (LUHM-pish)

  ADJECTIVE: Having a heavy, lumplike appearance; devoid of intelligence or vitality.

  lusk

  (lusk)

  NOUN: A loafer; idler.

  M

  malaise

  (ma-LAYZ)

  NOUN: A feeling of worry, lethargy, or mental restlessness.

  malingerer

  (muh-LING-gerer)

  NOUN: One who pretends to be sick or injured in order to avoid work.

  When Terrence was discovered walking at home without a limp by one of his coworkers, it was clear he was a MALINGERER and should have been back at work weeks ago.

  maunder

  (MAWN-der)

  VERB: To ramble or speak in an incoherent manner or mumble; to behave in an aimless fashion.

  meander

  (mee-AN-der)

  VERB: To follow an indirect, possibly winding path; to wander in a leisurely way.

  meaningless

  (MEE-ning-lis)

  ADJECTIVE: Lacking meaning or purpose; insignificant.

  Is sloppiness in speech caused by ignorance

  or apathy?

  I don’t know and

  I don’t care.

  —WILLIAM SAFIRE

  microsleep

  (MAHY-kroh-sleep)

  NOUN: An instance of slumber that happens so quickly, it’s barely noticed by the sleeper; it’s something often associated with those suffering from narcolepsy or sleep deprivation.

  middle-of-the-road

  (MID-l-uhv-thuh-rohd)

  ADJECTIVE: Taking a position in the middle of an argument; not taking sides.

  milquetoast

  (MILK-tohst)

  ADJECTIVE: Referencing comic strip character Caspar Milquetoast, someone described as being milquetoast is timid and unassertive.

  mooch

  (mooch)

  VERB: To sponge off of people with no intention of ever paying them back; as a noun, a mooch—or moocher—is the person who does the sponging.

  Gerry’s attempt to MOOCH off of David was thwarted when he realized David had no money to support even himself.

  monotonous

  (muh-NOT-n-uhs)

  ADJECTIVE: Boring or dull; literally, monotonous means of one tone.

  mope

  (mohp)

  VERB: To sulk or brood; to be apathetic.

  mopes

  (mohps)

  NOUN: The doldrums; the blues.

  moribund

  (MAWR-uh-buhnd)

  ADJECTIVE: Dying; stagnant.

  mosey

  (MOH-zee)

  VERB: To amble along at a leisurely pace; saunter.

  To ask Barbara to perform any task away from her desk meant watching her MOSEY from one end of the office to the other, taking as much time as possible.

  motionless

  (MOH-shuhn-lis)

  ADJECTIVE: Lacking motion; stationary.

  muck about

  (muhk uh-BOUT)

  VERB: To waste time or dally.

  mundane

  (muhn-DAYN)

  ADJECTIVE: Common or ordinary; workaday.

  Going to the theater really has become MUNDANE; it rarely surprises me anymore.

  N

  nap

  (nap)

  VERB: To sleep for a short period of time, usually during the day.

  narcosis

  (nahr-KOH-sis)

  NOUN: A state of stupor or unconsciousness, often as a result of narcotics.

  ne’er-do-well

  (NE-er-doo-wel)

  NOUN: An irresponsible loafer; good-for-nothing.

  nebulous

  (NEB-yuh-luhs)

  ADJECTIVE: Something that is vague or confused; cloudy.

  Asking Grace a question before she was awake meant the answer would be NEBULOUS and nearly impossible to follow.

  neglectful

  (ni-GLEKT-fuhl)

  ADJECTIVE: Careless; forgetful regarding one’s duties or responsibilities.

  negligent

  (NEG-li-juhnt)

  ADJECTIVE: Acting in a careless, inattentive fashion.

  negligible

  (NEG-li-juh-buhl)

  ADJECTIVE: A small, insignificant amount.

  nepenthe

  (ni-PEN-thee)

  NOUN: A drug or substance that causes a temporary relief from one’s pain or problems.

  nescience

  (NESH-ee-uhns)

  NOUN: Lack of knowledge; ignorance.

  Your NESCIENCE on the subject is quite appalling, considering how much you are paid to teach it!

  neutral

  (NOO-truhl)

  ADJECTIVE: Not favoring any particular side in an argument or dispute; impartial.

  Science may have found a cure for most evils; but it has found no remedy for the worst of them all—the apathy of human beings.

  —HELEN KELLER

  no-good

  (NOH-good)

  ADJECTIVE: Lacking in positive virtues; worthless.

  noctambulist

  (nok-TAM-byuh-liz-uhm)

  NOUN: One who sleepwalks; somnambulist.

  Edward was a known NOCTAMBULIST and would sometimes go about his morning routine or prepare a meal while completely asleep.

  nodding

  (NOD-ding)

  ADJECTIVE: Something that bends downward; sleepy.

  nonchalance

  (non-shuh-LAHNS)

  NOUN: Lack of concern; casualness.

  nonentity

  (non-EN-ti-tee)

  NOUN: Someone or thing that is nonexistent or so insignificant that its presence does not matter.

  noninterference

  (non-in-ter-FEER-uhns)

  NOUN: Staying out of any part of a dispute, noninterference is often used in discussing political matters.

  nugatory

  (NOO-guh-tawr-ee)

  ADJECTIVE: Of no value; insignificant.

  O

  objectless

  (OB-jikt-lis)

  ADJECTIVE: Without an object or purpose; aimless.

  oblivion

  (uh-BLIV-ee-uhn)

  NOUN: A state of unawareness or of being completely forgotten.

  oblivious

/>   (uh-BLIV-ee-uhs)

  ADJECTIVE: Unaware of one’s surroundings.

  obtuse

  (uhb-TOOS)

  ADJECTIVE: Dim-witted; imperceptive; slow to understand.

  offish

  (AW-fish)

  ADJECTIVE: Detached; standoffish.

  When introduced to new people, Liza was perceived as OFFISH due to her lack of energy or investment into conversation.

  ornery

  (AWR-nuh-ree)

  ADJECTIVE: Irritable; obstinate.

  Procrastination isn’t the problem, it’s the solution.

  So procrastinate now,

  don’t put it off.

  —ELLEN DEGENERES

  oscitant

  (OS-ih-tuhnt)

  ADJECTIVE: Drowsy; lazy or uninteresting.

  otiose

  (OH-shee-ohs)

  ADJECTIVE: Superfluous or not essential; lazy.

  So much of our furniture seems OTIOSE; we rarely use any of it.

  overtired

  (oh-ver-TY-uhrd)

  ADJECTIVE: Exhausted; overworked.

  P

  pachydermatous

  (pak-ih-DUR-muh-tuhs)

  ADJECTIVE: Formally, it means having the thick skin or a pachyderm; informally, it refers to someone who is indifferent to criticism.

  paralysis

  (puh-RAL-uh-sis)

  NOUN: Complete immobility, voluntarily or otherwise; involuntarily loss of body movement as a result of an injury or some other affliction.

  parasite

  (PAR-uh-syt)

  NOUN: Something—including a person—who lives off of another; a sponge or freeloader.

  passionless

  (PASH-uhn-lis)

  ADJECTIVE: Without passion or emotion.

  passivity

  (pa-SIV-ih-tee)

  NOUN: Submissiveness; obedience.

  Her PASSIVITY pleased him; he enjoyed the break from her fighting back.

  perfunctory

  (per-FUHNGK-tuh-ree)

  ADJECTIVE: Performed as a matter of routine in a disinterested way; automatic.

  phlegmatic

  (fleg-MAT-ik)

  ADJECTIVE: Indifferent or unconcerned; apathetic.

  piddle

  (PID-l)

  VERB: To waste time or money; dally.

  She hid most of their savings in a can in the pantry; otherwise, he might PIDDLE it away at the racetrack.

  pococurante

  (poh-koh-koo-RAN-tee)

  ADJECTIVE: Indifferent or nonchalant; as a noun it is used in reference to someone who is indifferent or uninterested.

  plod

  (plod)

  VERB: To move along slowly, as if weighed down by something or not interested in moving ahead. As a noun, it refers to a slow walk or the sound of heavy, lumbering steps.

  Know the true value of time; snatch, seize, and enjoy every moment of it. No idleness; no laziness; no procrastination; never put

  off till tomorrow what you can do today.

  —LORD CHESTERFIELD

  poky

  (POH-kee)

  ADJECTIVE: Extremely slow; plodding.

  poppied

  (POP-eed)

  ADJECTIVE: Behaving in a sleepy manner, as if one has taken an opiate; a more literal translation is to be covered in poppies.

  potter

  (POT-er)

  VERB: To move along or complete a task in a leisurely, uninterested manner; to putter.

  We would have been finished much sooner if you had chosen to hurry up rather than POTTER about.

  procrastinate

  (proh-KRAS-tuh-nayt)

  VERB: To put off doing something until the last possible moment; delay.

  profitless

  (PROF-it)

  ADJECTIVE: Without profit or gain.

  prosaic

  (proh-ZAY-ik)

  ADJECTIVE: Uninteresting and dull; without any specific features to make it special.

  prostrate

  (PROS-trayt)

  ADJECTIVE: Lying in a prone, face-downward position, often as the result of an injury.

  As she lay so dramatically PROSTRATE on the bed, she realized everyone was tired of her lazy lifestyle.

  purposeless

  (PUR-puhs-lis)

  ADJECTIVE: Without purpose or reason; aimless.

  pusillanimous

  (pyoo-suh-LAN-uh-muhs)

  ADJECTIVE: Lacking courage; cowardly.

  putrescent

  (pyoo-TRES-uhnt)

  ADJECTIVE: Decaying; rotting.

  putter

  (PUHT-er)

  VERB: To putter is to move about in a slow, disinterested manner. See potter.

  Q

  quicksand

  (KWIK-sand)

  NOUN: A situation or location where entering is easy and swift but exiting is difficult and tedious.

  quiescent

  (kwee-ES-uhnt)

  ADJECTIVE: In an inactive state; resting or dormant.

  quietude

  (KWAHY-ih-tood)

  NOUN: A state of quiet, calmness, or tranquility.

  As selfish as it sounded, Muriel enjoyed the QUIETUDE while her children were gone to school.

  Moderation is the feebleness and sloth of the soul, whereas ambition is the warmth and activity of it.

  —FRANçOIS LA ROCHEFOUCAULD

  R

  rack out

  (RAK out)

  VERB: To go to sleep.

  ramble

  (RAM-buhl)

  NOUN: A stroll or leisurely walk.

  recess

  (REE-ses)

  NOUN: A temporary end to activity or labor.

  recline

  (ri-KLYN)

  VERB: To lean backward in an attempt to relax.

  recumbent

  (ri-KUHM-buhnt)

  ADJECTIVE: Reclining; idle.

  While lying RECUMBENT on the chaise, Dinah lazily gestured for another glass of wine.

  regardless

  (ri-GAHRD-lis)

  ADJECTIVE: Paying no regard or attention; oblivious.

  Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday.

  —DON MARQUIS

  refrain

  (ri-FRAYN)

  VERB: To hold back or prevent oneself from doing something.

  relinquish

  (ri-LING-kwish)

  VERB: To give up or hand something over; to surrender.

  remiss

  (ri-MIS)

  ADJECTIVE: Careless; negligent of one’s duties.

  You would be REMISS to leave your children without first hiring a caregiver.

  repose

  (ree-POHZ)

  NOUN: A state of rest or tranquility.

  respite

  (RES-pit)

  NOUN: A period of rest; a slight delay.

  restful

  (REST-fuhl)

  ADJECTIVE: Allowing for rest; relaxing or tranquil.

  resultless

  (ri-ZUHLT-lis)

  ADJECTIVE: Without results; fruitless.

  retire

  (ri-TYUHR)

  VERB: To leave the work force permanently; to go to bed. In both cases, the retiree does so in search of relaxation.

  I shall RETIRE early this evening in hopes of catching more sleep than normal.

  rocker

  (ROK-er)

  NOUN: A chair mounted on two curved pieces that allows one to rock back and forth while sitting.