lazy

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   Not willing to work or make an effort.

   Get out of bed, you lazy thing!

2. 2
   adj

   Relaxed, slow, and without much activity.

   I love staying inside and reading on a lazy Sunday.

3. 3
   adj

   Moving slowly and gently.

   We strolled along beside a lazy stream.

4. 4
   adj

   Showing a lack of care or effort.

   The teacher criticised his lazy writing.

Attested since 1540, origin uncertain. Probably from Low German and Middle Low German lasich (“slack, feeble, lazy”), from las, from Old Saxon lask, from Proto-Germanic *lasiwaz, *laskaz (“feeble, weak”), from Proto-Indo-European *las- (“weak”). Akin to Dutch leuzig (“lazy”), Old Norse lasinn (“limpy, tired, weak”), Old English lesu, lysu (“false, evil, base”). More at lush. An alternative etymology traces lazy to Early Modern English laysy, a derivative of lay (plural lays + -y) in the same way that tipsy is derived from tip. See lay.

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