lethargicadj.n.
/lᵻˈθɑːdʒɪk/, U.S. /ləˈθɑrdʒɪk/ A. adj.
1.
a. Affected with lethargy or morbid drowsiness.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > disorders of internal organs > stupor or coma > [adjective] > morbid sleep > affected with
lethargica1398
lethargious1548
lethargized1614
lethargical1651
a1398 J. Trevisa tr. Bartholomaeus Anglicus De Proprietatibus Rerum (BL Add. 27944) (1975) II. xviii. xxix. 1175 Þe litargyk man þat haþ þe slepyng euel is awaked þerwiþ.
1720 R. Wodrow Corr. (1843) II. 528 He was very lethargic, and was cupped.
b. transferred. Affected with inertness or inactivity; dull, sleepy, sluggish, apathetic.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > inaction > disinclination to act or listlessness > [adjective]
unlustyc1225
sleepyc1384
phlegmatica1400
listlessc1440
owlist1440
unlisty1440
phlegmyc1450
sweyntc1450
supine1554
resty1565
unactive1591
sleepy-headed1600
log-like1602
inertious1611
stupefied?1611
lethargic1612
sedentary1625
torpent1647
torpid1656
torpulent1657
softly1664
inert1774
vegetative1789
spiritless1798
unenergetic1805
sloomy1820
slow-going1825
inenergetic1826
comatose1828
moony1847
mooning1864
torpid-minded1909
narcoleptic1965
vegged1986
1612 J. Donne Second Anniuersarie 7 in First Anniuersarie To be thus stupid is Alacrity; Men thus lethargique haue best Memory.
a1649 W. Drummond Poems (1656) 136 Blind and Lethargick of thy heavenly Grace.
1752 D. Hume Ess. & Treat. (1777) I. 153 [Nature] allows not such noble faculties to lie lethargic.
1816 J. Scott Paris Revisited iv. 58 The numerous, populous, bustling, and neat towns of that country, are likely to present..striking contrasts to the lethargic Flemish cities.
1834 G. Bancroft Hist. U.S. I. iii. 117 The exiles of a year had grown familiar with the favorite amusement of the lethargic Indians; and they introduced into England the general use of tobacco.
1835 E. Bulwer-Lytton Rienzi III. x. vi. 301 Those he employed seemed..lukewarm and lethargic.
2. Of or belonging to a state of lethargy.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > inaction > disinclination to act or listlessness > [adjective] > relating to a state of lethargy
lethargic1595
lethargical1617
the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > disorders of internal organs > stupor or coma > [adjective] > morbid sleep
soporiferous1583
lethargic1595
lethargical1617
sleepy1623
soporous1684
soporose1710
narcoleptic1904
hypersomnic1929
1595 King James VI & I Let. to Elizabeth I in Lett. (1849) lviii. 111 That ye quho uas so uachfull..as..to foruairne me of my perrell,..should nou, in the uerrie heicht..thairof, be fallen in so lethargique a sleip, as [etc.].
a1649 W. Drummond Poems (1656) 108 Sins lethargick sleep.
1692 N. Luttrell Diary in Brief Hist. Relation State Affairs (1857) II. 501 The lord Trevors is said to be recovered of a lethargick fitt.
1704 Clarendon's Hist. Rebellion III. x. 33 His constitution, and temper, might very well incline him to the Lethargick indisposition of which he dyed.
1739 tr. C. Rollin Anc. Hist. (ed. 2) V. 99 They sunk into lethargic sloth and effeminacy.
1844 C. J. Lever Tom Burke I. xxxv. 250 My lethargic apathy increased upon me.
1853 E. K. Kane U.S. Grinnell Exped. (1856) xxx. 262 I felt that lethargic numbness mentioned in the story books.
1860 J. L. Motley Hist. Netherlands (1868) II. xviii. 422 The lethargic condition of Germany rendered such threats superfluous.
1875 H. C. Wood Treat. Therapeutics (1879) 228 In three to six hours he comes out of his lethargic condition.
3. Causing lethargy.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > inaction > disinclination to act or listlessness > [adjective] > causing
leaden1579
stupefying1617
benumbing1628
bedulling1656
obstupefying1660
lethargic1718
sopient1804
torporizing1822
torporific1825
lethargizing1827
torpid1830
deadening1875
1718 A. Pope tr. Homer Iliad IV. xv. 876 Too long Jove lull'd us with lethargic Charms.
1759 T. Flloyd tr. T.-S. Gueullette Tartarian Tales 330 A lethargic Vapour deprived me of my Senses.
1865 C. Dickens Our Mutual Friend II. iii. vi Found to possess lethargic properties.
B. n.
A lethargic person; one who is affected with lethargy. ? Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > disorders of internal organs > stupor or coma > [noun] > morbid sleep > person
lethargicc1470
letharge1615
lethargy1634
narcoleptic1928
narcolept1957
c1470 J. Hardyng Chron. ccxl. xxvii The frowarde heretykes That..strayen oute as they were litargykes.
1694 W. Salmon Pharmacopœia Bateana i. ii. 67/1 It..revives Apoplecticks and Lethargicks.
1750 tr. C. Leonardus Mirror of Stones 136 (216) The white, we think, restores health to the lunatic and lethargic.
Derivatives
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > disorders of internal organs > stupor or coma > [noun] > morbid sleep
lethargyc1374
sleeping sickness1551
sleeping evil1580
sleeping diseasea1586
lethargicness1633
sopor1675
narcotism1843
hypersomnia1876
narcolepsy1880
narcolepsia1888
1633 G. Herbert Church Porch in Temple lvi A grain of glorie mixt with humblenesse Cures both a fever and lethargicknesse.
1727 in N. Bailey Universal Etymol. Eng. Dict. II
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1902; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.n.a1398