Sloth: A Dictionary for the Lazy Read online

  unemotional

  (uhn-ih-MOH-shuh-nl)

  ADJECTIVE: Without emotion; impassion.

  unenergetic

  (uhn-en-er-JET-ik)

  ADJECTIVE: Lacking in energy; lazy.

  unexcitable

  (uhn-ik-SY-tuh-buhl)

  ADJECTIVE: Impervious to excitement or enthusiasm; imperturbable.

  unexerted

  (uhn-ig-ZURT-ted)

  ADJECTIVE: Without exertion; lacking energy.

  The men who create power make an indispensable contribution to the Nation’s greatness, but the men who question power make a contribution just as indispensable, especially when that questioning is disinterested, for they determine whether we use power or power uses us.

  —JOHN F. KENNEDY

  unfelt

  (uhn-felt)

  ADJECTIVE: Not felt or aware of.

  unfruitful

  (uhn-FROOT-fuhl)

  ADJECTIVE: Without success or the desired result; futile.

  Our efforts to prepare a meal were UNFRUITFUL; maybe if we worked harder or knew how to cook we would be eating right now.

  unindustrious

  (in-DUHS-tree-uhs)

  ADJECTIVE: Lacking in ambition and energy; unproductive.

  uninspired

  (uhn-in-SPYUHRD)

  ADJECTIVE: Lacking encouragement or inspiration; bland.

  uninterested

  (uhn-IN-ter-uh-stid)

  ADJECTIVE: Showing a total lack of interest; indifferent or apathetic.

  unlax

  (uhn-LAKS)

  VERB: A slang term meaning to relax.

  unmindfulness

  (uhn-MYND-fuhl)

  NOUN: Unawareness; heedlessness.

  unmoved

  (uhn-moovd)

  ADJECTIVE: Not swayed or affected by something; indifferent.

  unobservant

  (uhn-uhb-ZUR-vuhnt)

  ADJECTIVE: Not alert or attentive.

  The UNOBSERVANT mother did not notice when her children slipped outside and ran down the street, returning with candy.

  unoccupied

  (uhn-OK-yuh-pyd)

  ADJECTIVE: Empty or vacant; not currently in use.

  unproductive

  (uhn-pruh-DUHK-tiv)

  ADJECTIVE: Producing no significant results; barren.

  unresponsive

  (uhn-ri-SPON-siv)

  ADJECTIVE: Not responding or reacting.

  unsociable

  (uhn-SOH-shuh-buhl)

  ADJECTIVE: Unfriendly or antisocial; disliking the company of others.

  The count was UNSOCIABLE; although he didn’t mind contributing to charity, he had no desire to attend the fundraising functions or make public appearances.

  unsubstantial

  (uhn-suhb-STAN-shuhl)

  ADJECTIVE: Without substance or strength; worthless.

  unsuccessful

  (uhn-suhk-SES-fuhl)

  ADJECTIVE: Not successful; failed.

  unthinking

  (uhn-THING-king)

  ADJECTIVE: Not thinking; careless or thoughtless.

  unwind

  (uhn-WYND)

  VERB: To relax, particularly after a particularly busy or stressful time.

  useless

  (YOOS-lis)

  ADJECTIVE: Of no worthwhile use; ineffective.

  V

  vacillate

  (VAS-uh-layt)

  VERB: To go back and forth between two sides without making a firm decision.

  vacuous

  (VAK-yoo-uhs)

  ADJECTIVE: Empty; unintelligent or dim.

  valueless

  (VAL-yoo-lis)

  ADJECTIVE: Of no value; worthless.

  vapid

  (VAP-id)

  ADJECTIVE: Lacking any depth; insipid or dull.

  She was VAPID and devoid of any real conversation or profound understanding.

  vegetate

  (VEJ-i-tayt)

  VERB: To be inactive or sluggish; stagnate.

  void

  (voyd)

  ADJECTIVE: To be ineffective or lacking; as a noun it refers to an empty space or loss of something; as a verb it means to cancel or negate.

  Iron rusts from disuse; stagnant water loses its purity and in cold weather becomes frozen; even so does inaction sap the vigor

  of the mind.

  —LEONARDO DA VINCI

  W

  wane

  (wayn)

  VERB: To decrease in power or intensity; to come to an end.

  He was so used to relaxing rather than working that just a few minutes after picking up a shovel his power would begin to WANE.

  waster

  (way-ster)

  NOUN: A person or thing who wastes something.

  wastrel

  (WAY-struhl)

  NOUN: An insulting term coined for those who are wasteful or lazy.

  wayward

  (WAY-werd)

  ADJECTIVE: Disobedient or errant; capricious or unpredictable.

  weariness

  (WEER-ee-nis)

  NOUN: Tiredness; exhaustion.

  Progress isn’t made by early risers. It’s made by lazy men trying to find easier ways to do something.

  —ROBERT HEINLEN

  weltschmerz

  (VELT-shmerts)

  NOUN: In German, weltschmerz translates to “world pain” and relates to a certain world-weariness or apathy caused by the current state of affairs in the world.

  while away

  (hwyl uh-WAY)

  VERB: To pass time in a leisurely manner.

  wither

  (WITH-er)

  VERB: To deteriorate and become weak; shrivel.

  Years of avoiding work caused her body to WITHER and become frail.

  woozy

  (WOO-zee)

  ADJECTIVE: Dizzy or faint; confused.

  work-shy

  (work-shy)

  ADJECTIVE: Avoiding work or exertion; lazy.

  world-weariness

  (wurld-WEER-ee-nis)

  NOUN: Fatigue or boredom with the world and particularly its material things.

  worthless

  (WURTH-lis)

  ADJECTIVE: Insignificant or of no value; useless.

  Though he volunteered for the cause, he was WORTHLESS when it came to actually helping with the physical labor.

  Y and Z

  yawn

  (yawn)

  VERB: Involuntarily open one’s mouth wide and inhale deeply due to tiredness.

  She remained so lazy and tired throughout every day that it was rare for her to go more than a few minutes without a YAWN.

  yuppie flu

  (YUHP-ee floo)

  NOUN: An informal term describing any fatigue-causing disorder, like chronic fatigue syndrome, associated with stress.

  zone out

  (ZOHN out)

  VERB: To stop paying attention.

  zonk

  (zongk)

  VERB: To fall into a deep sleep; to pass out due to intoxication.

  Out of passions grow opinions; mental sloth lets these rigidify into convictions.

  —FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE

  Copyright © 2011 by F+W Media, Inc.

  All rights reserved.

  This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any

  form without permission from the publisher; exceptions are

  made for brief excerpts used in published reviews.

  Published by

  Adams Media, a division of F+W Media, Inc.

  57 Littlefield Street, Avon, MA 02322. U.S.A.

  www.adamsmedia.com

  ISBN 10: 1-4405-2806-3

  ISBN 13: 978-1-4405-2806-4

  eISBN 10: 1-4405-2835-7

  eISBN 13: 978-1-4405-2835-4

  Printed in the United States of America.

  10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  is available from the publisher.

 
; This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information with regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional advice. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought.

  —From a Declaration of Principles jointly adopted

  by a Committee of the American Bar Association

  and a Committee of Publishers and Associations

  Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their product are claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appear in this book and Adams Media was aware of a trademark claim, the designations have been printed with initial capital letters.

  Illustration © clipart.com

  This book is available at quantity discounts for bulk purchases.

  For information, please call 1-800-289-0963.