INDOLENCE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does indolence mean? 

• INDOLENCE (noun)
  The noun INDOLENCE has 1 sense:

1. inactivity resulting from a dislike of work

  Familiarity information: INDOLENCE used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• INDOLENCE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Inactivity resulting from a dislike of work

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

indolence; laziness

Hypernyms ("indolence" is a kind of...):

inactiveness; inactivity; inertia (a disposition to remain inactive or inert)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "indolence"):

faineance; idleness (the trait of being idle out of a reluctance to work)

shiftlessness (a failure to be active as a consequence of lack of initiative or ambition)

Derivation:

indolent (disinclined to work or exertion)

 Context examples 

Eliza generally took no more notice of her sister's indolence and complaints than if no such murmuring, lounging object had been before her.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

"Natural indolence, you mean. It's really dreadful!" and Amy looked severe.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

After some days spent in listless indolence, during which I traversed many leagues, I arrived at Strasburgh, where I waited two days for Clerval.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

Indolence and love of ease; a want of all laudable ambition, of taste for good company, or of inclination to take the trouble of being agreeable, which make men clergymen.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

When the first transports of rage which had produced his activity in seeking her were over, he naturally returned to all his former indolence.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

Elinor honoured her for a plan which originated so nobly as this; though smiling to see the same eager fancy which had been leading her to the extreme of languid indolence and selfish repining, now at work in introducing excess into a scheme of such rational employment and virtuous self-control.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

It is indolence, Mr. Bertram, indeed.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

Lydia has no brothers to step forward; and he might imagine, from my father's behaviour, from his indolence and the little attention he has ever seemed to give to what was going forward in his family, that he would do as little, and think as little about it, as any father could do, in such a matter.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

From about the time of her entering the family, Lady Bertram, in consequence of a little ill-health, and a great deal of indolence, gave up the house in town, which she had been used to occupy every spring, and remained wholly in the country, leaving Sir Thomas to attend his duty in Parliament, with whatever increase or diminution of comfort might arise from her absence.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)