Read Sloth: A Dictionary for the Lazy for Free Online

C
careless
    (KAYR-lis)
    ADJECTIVE: Without care or concern; negligent.
catnap
    (KAT-nap)
    NOUN: A quick nap; as a verb, it’s the act of taking a quick nap.
cavalier
    (KAV-uh-leer)
    ADJECTIVE: Showing a lack of concern for an otherwise important person or thing; disdainful.
    He was CAVALIER regarding the wedding; while his future bride planned fervidly and glowed with excitement, he stared ahead, unblinking.
cessation
    (se-SAY-shuhn)
    NOUN: A stoppage, often permanently; termination.
chill
    (chil)
    VERB: Traditionally referring to a feeling of coldness, it’s also slang for the act of relaxing; to hang out.
    Ambition is a poor excuse
for not having sense enough to be lazy.
    —E DGAR B ERGEN
clock-watcher
    (klok-WOCH-er)
    NOUN: Originally used to refer to an apathetic employee who spends his or her day watching the clock for when it’s time to go home, the phrase can be used to describe anyone with a clear lack of interest in an activity.
comatose
    (KOHM-muh-tohs)
    ADJECTIVE: In addition to being used in a medical setting to characterize someone in a coma, it can also be used to describe a lack of energy or awareness.
conciliatory
    (kohn-SIL-ee-uh-tawr-ee)
    ADJECTIVE: Describes someone or thing that is pacifying or willing to compromise to keep peace.
    With his CONCILIATORY payment in hand, he promised to be on his best behavior for the rest of the event.
costive
    (KAW-stiv)
    ADJECTIVE: Traditionally refers to constipation of anything that causes constipation but is also used to describe slow or listless people and things.
couch
    (kouch)
    VERB: As a noun, it’s a piece of furniture; as a verb, it can mean to lie down or lay something down in order to rest.
couch potato
    (kouch puh-TAY-toh)
    NOUN: An inactive person who spends all of his or her time on the couch, watching TV or being otherwise entertained from a sedentary position.
couchant
    (KOU-chuhnt)
    ADJECTIVE: Lying down but with a raised head.
    It is extremely difficult to dine COUCHANT, but Adele was so lazy and so willing to sit up that she eventually found a way.
cunctation
    (kohngk-TAY-shuhn)
    NOUN: A hesitation or delay.

D
dabbler
    (DAB-ler)
    NOUN: One who participates in an event or interest on a superficial level only; dilettante.
    He was a DABBLER in music and never learned to play any instrument particularly well.
dally
    (DAL-ee)
    VERB: To waste time or loiter; to act in a playful manner.
dawdle
    (DAWD-l)
    VERB: To loiter; to waste time unnecessarily.
deadness
    (DED-nis)
    NOUN: A lack of inactivity so as to appear to be without life; numbness; extreme exhaustion.
deferral
    (dih-FUR-uhl)
    NOUN: The act of putting something off.
derelict
    (DER-uh-likt)
    ADJECTIVE: Neglectful or negligent of one’s responsibilities; it can also be used as a noun in reference to such a person or to someone who has no home, job, or family.
    The DERELICT mother often forgot to buy milk for the children or put them to bed on time.
dereliction
    (der-uh-LIK-shuhn)
    NOUN: To purposefully and knowingly neglect one’s responsibilities.
desist
    (dih-ZIST)
    VERB: To stop or cease.
desk-bound
    (DESK-bound)
    ADJECTIVE: Work that involves a lot of sitting or does not allow for one to leave his or her desk.
desultory
    (DES-uhl-tawr-ee)
    ADJECTIVE: Aimless of unfocused; lacking any organization or regularity.
    Idleness is not
doing nothing.
Idleness is being free
to do anything.
    —F LOYD D ELL
detachment
    (dih-TACH-muhnt)
    NOUN: Aloofness or disconnection, either physically or emotionally.
devoid
    (dih-VOID)
    ADJECTIVE: Lacking completely; existing without.
    Her face was DEVOID of any emotion; it was difficult to know exactly what she was feeling,
if anything.
diddle-daddle
    (DID-l-dad-l)
    VERB: To dawdle or loiter; dilly-dally.
dilatory
    (DIL-uh-tawr-ee)
    ADJECTIVE: Putting something off; being a procrastinator.
dilly-dally
    (DIL-ee-dal-ee)
    VERB: To waste time or dawdle; to loiter.
directionless
    (dih-REK-shuhn-lis)
    ADJECTIVE: Without direction or clear purpose.
    He was DIRECTIONLESS