INERTIA

inactiveness, inactivity, inertia

(noun) a disposition to remain inactive or inert; “he had to overcome his inertia and get back to work”

inertia

(noun) (physics) the tendency of a body to maintain its state of rest or uniform motion unless acted upon by an external force

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

inertia (countable and uncountable, plural inertias or inertiae or inertiæ)

(physics, uncountable or countable) The property of a body that resists any change to its uniform motion; equivalent to its mass.

(figuratively) In a person, unwillingness to take action.

(medicine) Lack of activity; sluggishness; said especially of the uterus, when, in labour, its contractions have nearly or wholly ceased.

Synonyms

• (unwillingness to take action): idleness, laziness, sloth, slothfulness

Anagrams

• iranite

Source: Wiktionary


In*er"ti*a, n. Etym: [L., idleness, fr. iners idle. See Inert.]

1. (Physics)

Definition: That property of matter by which it tends when at rest to remain so, and when in motion to continue in motion, and in the same straight line or direction, unless acted on by some external force; - - sometimes called vis inertiæ.

2. Inertness; indisposition to motion, exertion, or action; want of energy; sluggishness. Men . . . have immense irresolution and inertia. Carlyle.

3. (Med.)

Definition: Want of activity; sluggishness; -- said especially of the uterus, when, in labor, its contractions have nearly or wholly ceased. Center of inertia. (Mech.) See under Center.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



RESET




Word of the Day

28 May 2025

AIR

(noun) a distinctive but intangible quality surrounding a person or thing; “an air of mystery”; “the house had a neglected air”; “an atmosphere of defeat pervaded the candidate’s headquarters”; “the place had an aura of romance”


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Coffee Trivia

There are four varieties of commercially viable coffee: Arabica, Liberica, Excelsa, and Robusta. Growers predominantly plant the Arabica species. Although less popular, Robusta tastes slightly more bitter and contains more caffeine.

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