indolent

Definitions

in- (not) + dol (feel pain, from Latin dolēre) + -ent (adj.) = literally 'feeling no pain.' Medicine kept that literal sense: an indolent tumor is painless and slow-growing. Everyday English reasoned one step further — someone who feels no pain takes no pains and exerts no effort — so indolent came to mean habitually lazy. The leap from 'painless' to 'idle' is the most memorable thing about this word.

Why It Means This

The word is a tiny logic puzzle. in- 'not' plus Latin dolēre 'to feel pain' gives 'not feeling pain.' The medical meaning is the original, literal one — an indolent sore just sits there, painless and slow. The common meaning grew by inference: if you feel no pain, you suffer no discomfort, take no trouble, and do nothing. So 'painless' quietly became 'lazy.' Holding both senses in mind explains why a single word covers a slow-healing ulcer and a slacker.

Common Collocations

• 1.indolent lifestyle懒散的生活方式
• 2.indolent disposition懒散的性情
• 3.indolent tumor惰性肿瘤
• 4.indolent ulcer惰性溃疡

Example Sentences

• 1.

  He spent an indolent afternoon dozing in the hammock.

• 2.

  The manager grew impatient with his indolent, unmotivated staff.

• 3.

  Doctors described the lesion as indolent, growing so slowly it caused no symptoms.

Easily Confused

indolent vs idle vs lazy — lazy is the blunt everyday word (a lazy student). indolent is more formal and suggests a settled, habitual disposition toward inaction, often with a faint air of leisure. idle stresses the state of doing nothing right now (an idle machine, idle hands), not necessarily a character flaw. Pick indolent for a literary or judgmental tone about someone's nature.