[f. LAZY a. + -NESS.] The quality of being lazy; aversion or indisposition to exert oneself; slothfulness, sluggishness.
1580. in Hollyband, Treas. Fr. Tong.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., III. vii. 12. Such laesinesse both lewd and poore attonce him made.
1601. Sir W. Cornwallis, Disc. Seneca (1631), 38. Laysines the yonger brother of idlenes.
1631. Gouge, God’s Arrows, I. Ded. 8. Even in leisure lasinesse is to be shunned.
1796. Morse, Amer. Geog., II. 394. The pride, indolence, and laziness of the Spaniards.
1816. T. Moore, Lett., 1 July, in Mem. (1856), VIII. 216. It is not right that you and I, whatever may be our respective lazinesses, should continue so long without hearing from each other.
1869. Spurgeon, J. Ploughm. Talk, 7. Every man ought to have patience and pity for poverty; but for laziness, a long whip.
