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# idleness

noun (idleness; uncountable)

«idleness» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Idleness is being lazy and not working or doing anything useful. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/idleness/#m1)
2. Idleness is also simply not being in use or not busy: a machine's idleness. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/idleness/#m2)

### In the lessons

In stories, fables and sayings, idleness is shown as a fault: «Idleness is the root of all mischief». In ethics and church teaching, laziness (sloth) is one of the old list of sins. Phrases: «a life of idleness», «idle hands».

### Examples

- The grasshopper spent the summer in idleness while the ants worked. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/idleness/#x1)
- His idleness meant his homework never got done. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/idleness/#x2)
- After weeks of idleness, the factory machines were rusty. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/idleness/#x3)
- A little idleness on a holiday can be nice. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/idleness/#x4)
- «Idle hands make mischief,» Grandma says. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/idleness/#x5)
- Idleness made the long afternoon feel boring. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/idleness/#x6)
- Idleness is a great sin, and I certainly don’t like any of my friends to be idle or sluggish. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/idleness/#x7)

### Note

Uncountable. Adjective «idle», adverb «idly». Do not confuse «idle» with «idol» (a famous person you admire, or a statue worshipped). Resting is not idleness: everyone needs rest.

## In Jewish tradition

Idleness is laziness, a failing that the wise books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes warn leads to ruin.

**Interpretation.** The tradition praises the capable woman of Proverbs 31, sung on Friday nights, because she never eats the bread of idleness. Honest work is seen as a virtue.

### Examples

- By slothfulness the rafters sink in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaketh. (Writings ECC.10.18, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/I/idleness/#x1)
- She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. (Writings PRO.31.27, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/I/idleness/#x2)

### Note

Uncountable. Adjective «idle», adverb «idly». Do not confuse «idle» with «idol» (a famous person you admire, or a statue worshipped). Resting is not idleness: everyone needs rest.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «idleness» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/I/idleness/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«idleness» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/idleness.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «idleness» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/I/idleness/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«idleness» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/idleness.html) on Mova free.