oisif

Signification (English)

idle (not engaged in any occupation)

Synonyms

paresseux

négligent

inactif

oisive

fainéant

roue folle

niais

flâneur

Prononcé comme (IPA)

/wa.zif/

Étymologie (English)

Inherited from moyen français: oysif

Inherited from ancien français: oisdif

In summary

Inherited from Middle French oysif, ouesif, from Old French oisdif, back-formed from oisdive (“idleness”), in turn derived from oisos (“idle”), from Latin ōtiōsus (“idle”). It has the same root as oiseux (“idle, lazy; boring”). Compare the pair Old French voisos (“spoiled; corrupt”) and voisdie, voisdive (“ruse, trick; subtlety, skill”), both from Latin vitiō, vitiāre (“to spoil something”).