Where does “lethargic” come from?
Lethargic comes from Ancient Greek ληθαργικός, derived from λήθαργος, combining ἀργός with the prefix ἀ-, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots meaning absence of activity.
lethargic (English): sluggish, slow; indifferent, apathetic
Definitions
- sluggish, slow; indifferent, apathetic
Ancestry of “lethargic”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ancient Greek | ληθαργικός | — |
| 2 | Ancient Greek | λήθαργος | forgetful; lethargic; lethargy |
| 3 | Ancient Greek | ἀργός | white, bright; swift; not working, idle |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | ἀ- | The alpha privativum, used to make words that... |
| 5 | Proto-Hellenic | hə- | same; together |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | sm̥- | one; with, together |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | sem- | together, one |