leisure

Pronunciation

• IPA: UK /ˈleʒ.ə/, US /ˈliː.ʒɚ/, /ˈleʒ.ɚ/^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle English leiser, borrowed from Old French leisir (“permission, leisure, free time”), a variant of loisir, the noun use of a verb meaning to be permitted,^[2][3][4][5] from Latin liceō (“to be allowed”) (see licence).^{[2][3][4][5][6]} The spelling with -ure appeared in the 16th century, probably after words such as pleasure and measure.^[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Time free from work or duties: probably before 1300, in Kyng Alisaunder, in Barnhart; about 1300 in Etymonline.^[2][3] The OED's first sense, freedom or opportunity to do something (1303), is obsolete.^[7]

Semantic evolution

An opportunity or chance, and lack of hurry, are from the early 14th century.^[3] Freedom from necessary occupations is from the late 14th century,^[3][7] as is at leisure, without haste.^[3] A spell of free time is from about 1449,^[7] and to wait upon someone's leisure from 1517.^[7] The OED notes that the French word developed in much the same way.^[3] The adjective is from the 1660s,^[3] and leisurely is from 1486 as an adverb and 1604 as an adjective.^[2] A lady of leisure dates only from the 1940s.^[8]

Timeline

• probably before 1300 – free time.^[2]
• 1303 – opportunity (obsolete).^[7]
• late 14th century – at leisure.^[3]
• 1486 – leisurely (adverb).^[2]
• 1660s – leisure (adjective).^[3]
• 1940s – a lady of leisure.^[8]

Modern meaning

Noun

1. Time free from work or duties, for ease and relaxation.
2. Ease; an unhurried manner.
3. at leisure: having free time; also, without hurrying.
4. at one's leisure: when one has time.

Adjective

1. Of or for free time: leisure activities.

Word family

• leisurable
• leisureless
• leisured
• leisurely
• leisurewear
• leisure suit

Related words

• licence
• licit
• illicit

References

1. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
2. ^ a b c d e f g Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ a b Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
6. ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
7. ^ a b c d e Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
8. ^ a b Cresswell, Julia (2021), Oxford Dictionary of Word Origins, 3rd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press