listless

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English

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Etymology

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From Middle English lystles, equivalent to list (desire) +‎ -less. Compare German lustlos and Dutch lusteloos (lethargic, listless). Doublet of lustless.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈlɪstləs/
  • Audio (US):(file)

Adjective

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listless (comparative more listless, superlative most listless)

  1. Lacking energy, enthusiasm, or liveliness.
    • 1816 June – 1817 April/May (date written), [Mary Shelley], chapter I, in Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus. [], volume III, London: [] [Macdonald and Son] for Lackington, Hughes, Harding, Mavor, & Jones, published 1 January 1818, →OCLC, pages 2–3:
      I passed whole days on the lake alone in a little boat, watching the clouds, and listening to the rippling of the waves, silent and listless.
    • 1861, Charlotte M. Yonge, chapter 6, in The Stokesley Secret:
      What an entirely different set of beings were those Stokesley children in lesson-time. . . . Poor, listless, stolid, deplorable logs, with bowed backs and crossed ankles, pipy voices and heavy eyes!
    • 1901, William Somerset Maugham, chapter 21, in The Hero:
      The scene with Mrs. Wallace had broken his spirit, and he was listless now, indifferent to what happened.
    • 2005 November 29, Aryn Baker, “John Hardy: Bali Guy”, in Time:
      Listless, inattentive, distracted,” he recited. “A daydreamer. Tries his best, but is too slow.”

Derived terms

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Translations

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Anagrams

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