sloth
NounOpen English WordNet
Noun (3)
- a disinclination to work or exert yourselfSynonyms: slothfulnessType of reluctance, hesitancy
- any of several slow-moving arboreal mammals of South America and Central America; they hang from branches back downward and feed on leaves and fruitsSynonyms: tree slothType of edentateKinds three-toed sloth, two-toed slothMember of Bradypodidae, family Bradypodidae
- apathy and inactivity in the practice of virtue (personified as one of the deadly sins)Synonyms: lazinessacediaType of mortal sin, deadly sin
What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz
Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Origin: OE. slouthe, sleuthe, AS. sl…w…, fr. slāw slow. See Slow.
1. Slowness; tardiness.
These cardinals trifle with me; I abhor This dilatory sloth and tricks of Rome.— William Shakespeare
2. Disinclination to action or labor; sluggishness; laziness; idleness.
[They] change their course to pleasure, ease, and sloth.— John Milton
Sloth, like rust, consumes faster than labor wears.— Benjamin Franklin
3. Zoology Any one of several species of arboreal edentates constituting the family Bradypodidae, and the suborder Tardigrada. They have long exserted limbs and long prehensile claws. Both jaws are furnished with teeth (see Illust. of Edentata), and the ears and tail are rudimentary. They inhabit South and Central America and Mexico.
☞ The three-toed sloths belong to the genera Bradypus and Arctopithecus, of which several species have been described. They have three toes on each foot. The best-known species are collared sloth (Bradypus tridactylus), and the ai (Arctopitheus ai). The two-toed sloths, consisting the genus Cholopus, have two toes on each fore foot and three on each hind foot. The best-known is the unau (Cholopus didactylus) of South America. See Unau. Another species (Cholopus Hoffmanni) inhabits Central America. Various large extinct terrestrial edentates, such as Megatherium and Mylodon, are often called sloths.
Australian sloth, or Native sloth Zoology, the koala. — Sloth animalcule Zoology, a tardigrade. — Sloth bear Zoology, a black or brown long-haired bear (Melursus ursinus, or Melursus labiatus), native of India and Ceylon; — called also aswail, labiated bear, and jungle bear. It is easily tamed and can be taught many tricks. — Sloth monkey Zoology, a loris.
To be idle. obsolete John Gower
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54