different between inactive vs listless

English

Etymology

From French inactif. See also earlier unactive.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?n?ækt?v/
• Rhymes: -ækt?v

Adjective

inactive (comparative more inactive, superlative most inactive)

1. Not active, temporarily or permanently.

   The volcano is inactive, but is only dormant.

   An inactive boy, he rarely exercised and preferred to stay indoors.

2. Not functioning or operating; broken down

   The photocopier is inactive pending repair.

3. Retired from duty or service.

   Admiral Jones is now on the inactive list.

4. (chemistry) Relatively inert.

   Aluminium is inactive towards water.

5. (physics) Showing no optical activity in polarized light.

   Synthetic glycine is optically inactive as it contains equal amounts of the d- and l- form.

Synonyms

• (not active): dull, dormant; see also Thesaurus:inactive
• (not functioning or operating): idle

Antonyms

• (not active): active

Derived terms

• inactively
• inactivity

Translations

Anagrams

• antivice, vaticine

French

Verb

inactive

1. first-person singular present indicative of inactiver
2. third-person singular present indicative of inactiver
3. first-person singular present subjunctive of inactiver
4. third-person singular present subjunctive of inactiver
5. second-person singular imperative of inactiver

Adjective

inactive

1. feminine singular of inactif

Latin

Adjective

in?ct?ve

1. vocative masculine singular of in?ct?vus

Portuguese

Verb

inactive

1. first-person singular present subjunctive of inactivar
2. third-person singular present subjunctive of inactivar
3. first-person singular imperative of inactivar
4. third-person singular imperative of inactivar

Spanish

Verb

inactive

1. First-person singular (yo) present subjunctive form of inactivar.
2. Formal second-person singular (usted) present subjunctive form of inactivar.
3. Third-person singular (él, ella, also used with usted^?) present subjunctive form of inactivar.
4. Formal second-person singular (usted) imperative form of inactivar.

English

Etymology

From Middle English lystles, equivalent to list (“desire”) +? -less. Compare Dutch lusteloos (“lethargic, listless”). Doublet of lustless.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?l?stl?s/

Adjective

listless (comparative more listless, superlative most listless)

1. Lacking energy, enthusiasm, or liveliness.
   • 1818, Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, Frankenstein, ch. 18:

     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, The Stokesley Secret, ch. 6:

     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, The Hero, ch. 21:

     The scene with Mrs. Wallace had broken his spirit, and he was listless now, indifferent to what happened.

   • 2005 Nov. 29, Aryn Baker, "John Hardy: Bali Guy," Time:

     “Listless, inattentive, distracted,” he recited. “A daydreamer. Tries his best, but is too slow.”

Derived terms

• listlessly
• listlessness

Translations

Anagrams

• slitless