Where does “indolence” come from?
Indolence comes from Middle French indolence, from Latin indolentia, derived from Latin in- (not) and dolentia (suffering), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots meaning absence of pain or hardship.
indolence (English): Habitual laziness or sloth
Definitions
- Habitual laziness or sloth
Ancestry of “indolence”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle French | indolence | — |
| 2 | Latin | indolentia | freedom from pain, insensibility;... |
| 3 | Latin | dolēns | hurting, suffering |
| 4 | Latin | doleō | to hurt, suffer (physical pain) |
| 5 | Proto-Italic | doleō | hurt, cause pain |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | dolh₁éyeti | divide |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | delh₁- | to split, divide |