Etymologically
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leisure

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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in Barnhart; about 1300 in Etymonline.[2][3] The OED's first sense, freedom or opportunity to do something (1303), is obsolete.[7]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
  • 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