from exertion. Sluggish is still stronger, implying some defect of temperament which directly impedes
action. Inert and inactive are negative, sluggish is positive.
Even the favored isles . . .
Can boast but little virtue; and, inert
Through plenty, lose in morals what they
gain
In manners — victims of luxurious ease.
Cowper.
Doomed to lose four months in inactive obscurity.
Johnson.
Sluggish Idleness, the nurse of sin,
Upon a slothful ass he chose to ride.
Spenser. Inertia
(In*er"ti*a) n. [L., idleness, fr. iners idle. See Inert.]
1. (Physics) 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.) 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.
Inertion
(In*er"tion) n. Want of activity or exertion; inertness; quietude. [R.]
These vicissitudes of exertion and inertion of the arterial system constitute the paroxysms of remittent
fever.
E. Darwin. Inertitude
(In*ert"i*tude) n. [See Inert.] Inertness; inertia. [R.] Good.
Inertly
(In*ert"ly), adv. Without activity; sluggishly. Pope.
Inertness
(In*ert"ness), n.
1. Want of activity or exertion; habitual indisposition to action or motion; sluggishness; apathy; insensibility.
Glanvill.
Laziness and inertness of mind.
Burke. 2. Absence of the power of self-motion; inertia.
Inerudite
(In*er"u*dite) a. [L. ineruditus. See In- not, and Erudite.] Not erudite; unlearned; ignorant.
Inescapable
(In`es*cap"a*ble) a. Not escapable.
Inescate
(In*es"cate) v. t. [L. inescatus, p. p. of inescare; in- in + esca bait.] To allure; to lay a bait
for. [Obs.]
To inescate and beguile young women!
Burton. Inescation
(In`es*ca"tion) n. [L. inescatio.] The act of baiting; allurement. [Obs.] Hallywell.
Inescutcheon
(In`es*cutch"eon) n. (Her.) A small escutcheon borne within a shield.
