inactive
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inactive
- /ɪnˈæktɪv/
Rhymes with -æktɪv
Where it comes from
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *né
Proto-Indo-European *n̥-
Proto-Italic *n̥-
Latin in-
Proto-Indo-European *h₂eǵ-
Proto-Indo-European *-eti
Proto-Indo-European *h₂éǵeti
Proto-Italic *agō
Latin agō
Proto-Indo-European *-wós
Proto-Indo-European *-iHwósder.
Latin -īvus
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Ancient Greek ἐνεργητῐκός (energētĭkós)sl.
Latin āctīvus
Latin ināctīvuslbor.
French inactifder.
English inactive
From French inactif. Piecewise doublet of unactive.
adjective more inactive · most inactive
- Not active, temporarily or permanently. The volcano is inactive, but is only dormant.
- Not engaging in physical activity. […] exercise in general will lead to dramatic improvements in comparison with an inactive lifestyle.
- Not functioning or operating; broken down The photocopier is inactive pending repair.
- Retired from duty or service. Admiral Jones is now on the inactive list.
- Relatively inert. Aluminium is inactive towards water.
- Showing no optical activity in polarized light. Synthetic glycine is optically inactive as it contains equal amounts of the d- and l- form.
Similar: dormant, abeyant, at rest, cessant, fallow, hibernating, inactive, inert, languid, latent, nonactive, passive
noun inactives
- A person who does not take action. Typically inactives are poorly educated older women. Their lack of education is overwhelmingly the key factor in assigning the inactives to a life devoid of political activity of any sort.
