lethargy
pronunciation
How to pronounce lethargy in British English:
UK [ˈleθədʒi]
How to pronounce lethargy in American English:
US [ˈleθərdʒi]
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- Noun:
- a state of comatose torpor (as found in sleeping sickness)
- weakness characterized by a lack of vitality or energy
- inactivity; showing an unusual lack of energy
Word Origin
- lethargy
- lethargy: [14] Greek léthē meant ‘oblivion’ (the Romans used it for the name of a river in Hades whose water induced forgetfulness, and its influence has also been traced in changing Latin lētum ‘death’ to lēthum, source of English lethal [17]). From it was formed the adjective léthargos, which in turn produced the noun lēthargíā, source (via Latin and Old French) of English lethargy.=> lethal
- lethargy (n.)
- late 14c., litarge, from Old French litargie or directly from Medieval Latin litargia, from Late Latin lethargia, from Greek lethargia "forgetfulness," from lethargos "forgetful," originally "inactive through forgetfulness," from lethe "forgetfulness" (see latent) + argos "idle" (see argon). The form with -th- is from 1590s in English.
Example
- 1. The scale of the institutional lethargy in japan is at times breathtaking .
- 2. But the financial crisis will have shaken many clients out of their lethargy .
- 3. I let go long held beliefs , pounds and lethargy .
- 4. Leptin decides whether fat should be stored or used , resulting in lethargy or energy .
- 5. Then the apprehension of beauty has to come to us with a vigorous blow to awaken our consciousness from its primitive lethargy , and it attains its object by the urgency of the contrast .