a. [f. as prec. + -AL.]
1. Affected with lethargy.
1651. Jer. Taylor, Holy Dying, V. § 4 (1686), 216. Distracted persons, lethargical, apoplectical, or any ways senseless and uncapable of humane and reasonable acts.
1818. in Todd; and in later Dicts.
b. fig. of things.
1661. Cowley, Disc. Cromwell, in Verses & Ess. (1669), 76. If the desire of rule and superiority be a Virtue (as sure I am it is more imprinted in humane Nature than any of your Lethargical Morals).
1668. H. More, Div. Dial., II. xxii. (1713), 159. Terrestrial Goodness would even grow sluggish and lethargical, if it were not … quickened by [etc.].
2. Of or pertaining to lethargy.
1617. J. Taylor (Water P.), Taylor’s Trav., Ded. to Coriat, Tongue-tide taciturnity should haue imprisoned this worke in the Lethargicall Dungeon or bottomlesse Abisse of euer-sleeping obliuion.
1840. Hood, Up the Rhine, 179. The Constrictor After dinner, while deep In lethargical sleep.
Hence Lethargically adv., Lethargicalness.
1633. T. Adams, Exp. 2 Peter ii. 6. 619. They are lethargically secure, no ruine but their owne can stirre them.
1651. N. Biggs, New Disp., Pref. 4. Lethargically content to snore.
1664. H. More, Seven Ch., ix. (1669), 160. That thou mayst be the more effectually rowzed up out of this Tepidity and Lethargicalnesse.
1695. Whether Parlt. be not dissolved, etc. 13. The old Loyalty of the Church of England Party will rouse it self out of that Lethargicalness.
a. 1777. Fawkes, Voy. Planets, 111. In dismal gloom here drones inactive lull The lazy hours, lethargically dull.
1836. E. Howard, R. Reefer, l. I became … lethargically drowsy.
1882. Miss Woolson, Anne, 7. The cold kept them lethargically honest.
