Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Indolence
In′do-lence
,Noun.
[L.
indolentia
freedom from pain: cf. F. indolence
.] 1.
Freedom from that which pains, or harasses, as toil, care, grief, etc.
[Obs.]
I have ease, if it may not rather be called
indolence
. Bp. Hough.
2.
The quality or condition of being indolent; inaction, or lack of exertion of body or mind, proceeding from love of ease or aversion to toil; habitual idleness; indisposition to labor; laziness; sloth; inactivity.
Life spent in
indolence
, and therefore sad. Cowper.
As there is a great truth wrapped up in “diligence,” what a lie, on the other hand, lurks at the root of our present use of the word “
indolence
”! This is from “in” and “doleo,” not to grieve; and indolence
is thus a state in which we have no grief or pain; so that the word, as we now employ it, seems to affirm that indulgence in sloth and ease is that which would constitute for us the absence of all pain. Trench.
Webster 1828 Edition
Indolence
IN'DOLENCE
,Noun.
1.
Literally, freedom from pain.2.
Habitual idleness; indisposition to labor; laziness; inaction or want of exertion of body or mind, proceeding from love of ease or aversion to toil. Indolence, like laziness, implies a constitutional or habitual love of ease; idleness does not.