Inert

Inert
Inert In*ert", a. [L. iners, inertis, unskilled, idle; pref. in- + ars art: cf. F. inerte. See {Art}.] [1913 Webster] 1. Destitute of the power of moving itself, or of active resistance to motion; as, matter is inert. [1913 Webster]

2. Indisposed to move or act; very slow to act; sluggish; dull; inactive; indolent; lifeless. [1913 Webster]

The inert and desponding party of the court. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]

It present becomes extravagant, then imbecile, and at length utterly inert. --I. Taylor. [1913 Webster]

3. Not having or manifesting active properties; not affecting other substances when brought in contact with them; powerless for an expected or desired effect; as, the noble gases are chemically inert.

Syn: Inactive; dull; passive; indolent; sluggish; slothful; lazy; lifeless; irresolute; stupid; senseless; insensible.

Usage: {Inert}, {Inactive}, {Sluggish}. A man may be inactive from mere lack of stimulus to effort; but one who is inert has something in his constitution or his habits which operates like a weight holding him back from exertion. Sluggish is still stronger, implying some defect of temperament which directly impedes action. Inert and inactive are negative, sluggish is positive. [1913 Webster]

Even the favored isles . . . Can boast but little virtue; and, inert Through plenty, lose in morals what they gain In manners -- victims of luxurious ease. --Cowper. [1913 Webster]

Doomed to lose four months in inactive obscurity. --Johnson. [1913 Webster]

Sluggish Idleness, the nurse of sin, Upon a slothful ass he chose to ride. --Spenser. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • inert — INÉRT, Ă, inerţi, te, adj. 1. Nemişcat, fără viată, neînsufleţit. ♦ Inactiv din fire, lipsit de vigoare, de vioiciune, moale, molâu. 2. (fiz.; despre corpuri) Care are inerţie; (despre masa corpurilor) care se referă la inerţie. 3. (chim.; despre …   Dicționar Român

  • inert — [in ʉrt′] adj. [L iners, without skill or art, idle < in , not + ars (gen. artis), skill, ART3)] 1. having inertia; without power to move, act, or resist 2. tending to be physically or mentally inactive; dull; slow 3. having or exhibiting… …   English World dictionary

  • inert — index dead, dormant, idle, inactive, languid, lifeless (dull), otiose, phlegmatic …   Law dictionary

  • inert — inert* <aus gleichbed. lat. iners, Gen. inertis> (veraltet) untätig, träge; unbeteiligt; inerte Stoffe: reaktionsträge Stoffe, die sich an gewissen chem. Vorgängen nicht beteiligen (z. B. Edelgase; Chem.) …   Das große Fremdwörterbuch

  • inert — • inert, trög, inaktiv, slapp, overksam …   Svensk synonymlexikon

  • inert — (adj.) 1640s, from Fr. inerte (16c.) or directly from L. inertem (nom. iners) unskilled, inactive, helpless, sluggish, worthless, from in without + ars (gen. artis) skill (see ART (Cf. art) (n.)). Originally of matter; specifically of gases from… …   Etymology dictionary

  • inert — inactive, passive, idle, supine Analogous words: lifeless, inanimate, *dead: impotent, *powerless: apathetic, impassive, phlegmatic, stolid Antonyms: dynamic: animated Contrasted words: *active, operative, live: alert, vigilant, *watchful …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • inert — [adj] not moving; lifeless apathetic, asleep, dead, dormant, down, dull, idle, immobile, impassive, impotent, inactive, inanimate, indolent, languid, languorous, lazy, leaden, listless, motionless, numb, paralyzed, passive, phlegmatic, powerless …   New thesaurus

  • inert — ► ADJECTIVE 1) lacking the ability or strength to move. 2) chemically inactive. DERIVATIVES inertly adverb inertness noun. ORIGIN Latin iners, unskilled, inactive , from in not + ars skill, art …   English terms dictionary

  • Inert — In English, to be inert is to be in a state of doing little or nothing. Contents 1 Chemistry 2 Pesticides 3 Number theory 4 Munitions 5 …   Wikipedia

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