lazy English · revision 6593

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|formation=borrowing|attested=1549}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈleɪ̯zi(ː)/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is of uncertain origin.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) Skeat's view, now usual, is that it is probably from Low German: compare [[gml|lasich|t=weak, feeble, tired]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024)^(Hoad 1986) which is cognate with [[non|lasinn|t=weak, dilapidated]] and Gothic lasiws, weak.^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) In the 19th century it was thought to come from [[lay]];^(Etymonline) Weekley rejects a link with French lassé, tired, because of the z sound.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Of persons, averse to work, idle: 1549, as laysy, in Barnhart and the OED;^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) the 1540s in Etymonline.^(Etymonline) The spelling with z is first recorded in Shakespeare's ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' (1590).^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Of things, sluggish or slow-moving, as in ''a lazy river'', is from before 1568, in Roger Ascham's ''Scholemaster''.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) Of places or times favouring idleness, it is from 1606.^(OED 1989) Lazy replaced native [[slack]], [[slothful]] and [[idle]] as the usual word for averse to work.^(Etymonline) The back-formation [[laze]] is from the 16th century.^(Hoad 1986) ''Lazy-tongs'' are from 1785, the ''lazy Susan'' from 1917,^(Etymonline) and a ''lazy eye'' from 1939.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1549 – laysy, idle.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * before 1568 – sluggish, of things.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1590 – the spelling lazy, in Shakespeare.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1917 – lazy Susan.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1939 – lazy eye.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Unwilling to work or make an effort; [[idle]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Encouraging idleness: ''a lazy afternoon''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Slow-moving; [[sluggish]]: ''a lazy stream''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[lazily]]

+ * [[laziness]]

+ * [[lazyish]]

+ * [[laze]]

+ * [[lazybones]]

+ * [[lazy eye]]

+ * [[lazy Susan]]

+ * [[lazy tongs]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[idle]]

+ * [[slothful]]

+ * [[slack]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}