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Webster 1913 Edition

Leisure

Lei′sure

(lē′zhū̍r; 135)
,
Noun.
[OE.
leisere
,
leiser
, OF.
leisir
, F.
loisir
, orig., permission, fr. L.
licere
to be permitted. See
License
.]
1.
Freedom from occupation or business; vacant time; time free from employment.
The desire of
leisure
is much more natural than of business and care.
Sir W. Temple.
2.
Time at one’s command, free from engagement; convenient opportunity; hence, convenience; ease.
He sighed, and had no
leisure
more to say.
Dryden.
At leisure
.
(a)
Free from occupation; not busy.
(b)
In a leisurely manner; at a convenient time.

Lei′sure

,
Adj.
Unemployed;
as,
leisure
hours
.

Webster 1828 Edition

Leisure

LEISURE

,
Noun.
lezh'ur or lee'zhur.
1.
Freedom from occupation or business; vacant time; time free from employment.
The desire of leisure is much more natural than of business and care.
I shall leave with him that rebuke to be considered at his leisure.
2.
Convenience of time.
He sigh'd, and had no leisure more to say. [Not used.]

Definition 2024

leisure

leisure

English

Noun

leisure ‎(countable and uncountable, plural leisures)

  1. Freedom provided by the cessation of activities.
  2. Free time, time free from work or duties.
    • Sir W. Temple
      The desire of leisure is much more natural than of business and care.
    • 1811, Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility, chapter 11
      Little had Mrs. Dashwood or her daughters imagined when they first came into Devonshire, that so many engagements would arise to occupy their time as shortly presented themselves, or that they should have such frequent invitations and such constant visitors as to leave them little leisure for serious employment.
    • 1908, William David Ross (translator), Aristotle, Metaphysics
      This is why the mathematical arts were founded in Egypt; for there the priestly caste was allowed to be at leisure.
  3. Time at one's command, free from engagement; convenient opportunity; hence, convenience; ease.
    • Dryden
      He sighed, and had no leisure more to say.

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Translations

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Etymology

From Middle English leisir, from Anglo-Norman leisir, variant of Old French loisir ‎(“to enjoy oneself”) (Modern French loisir survives as a noun), substantive use of a verb, from Latin licēre ‎(“be permitted”). Displaced native Middle English lethe ‎(“leisure”) (from Old English liþian "to unloose, release", compare Old English līþung "permission"), Middle English tom, toom "leisure" (from Old Norse tōm "leisure, ease", compare Old English tōm "free from").

Pronunciation

  • (UK, Australia, South Africa)
    • IPA(key): /ˈlɛʒə(ɹ)/
    • Rhymes: -ɛʒə(ɹ)
  • (US, Canada)
    • IPA(key): /ˈliːʒəɹ/
    • Rhymes: -iːʒə(ɹ)
    • (rarely) IPA(key): /ˈlɛʒəɹ/

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