Lethargic

Pronunciation

• GenAm IPA: /ləˈθɑɹdʒɪk/
• New Zealand IPA: /ləˈθɑːdÊ’É™k/
• RP IPA: /ləˈθɑː.dʒɪk/
• Rhymes: -ɑː(ɹ)dʒɪk

Alternative forms

• lethargick obsolete

Origin

From Ancient Greek ληθαργικός, from λήθαργος (lēthargos, "forgetful, lethargic"), from λήθη (lēthē, "a forgetting, forgetfulness") (from which Lethe ("river in Hades")) + ἀργός (argos, "not working")

Full definition of lethargic

Adjective

1. sluggish, slow
• 1960, P. G. Wodehouse, Jeeves in the Offing, cat hasn't caught a mouse since he was a slip of a kitten. Except when eating, he does nothing but sleep. Lethargic is the word that springs to the lips. If you cast an eye on him, you will see that he's asleep now.
2. indifferent, apathetic

Synonyms

• torpid
• lazy
• unmoving

Related terms

• alethic, alethiology, philalethia
• lethargy
• Lethe