Contents -AUTHOR INDEX -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

Mawson, C.O.S., ed. (1870–1938). Roget’s International Thesaurus. 1922.

Class V. Words Releasing to the Voluntary Powers
Division (I) Individual Volition
Section III. Voluntary Action
1. Simple Voluntary Action

681. Inaction.

   NOUN:INACTION, passiveness, abstinence from action; watchful waiting; noninterference; Fabian -, laisser-aller [F.] -, laisser-faire [F.] -, conservative- policy; neglect [See Neglect].
  INACTIVITY [See Inactivity]; stagnation, vegetation, loafing, loaf; rest (repose) [See Repose]; quiescence [See Quiescence]; want of occupation, unemployment, inoccupation; idle hours, idle hands, time hanging on one’s hands, dolce far niente [It.]; shore duty; interregnum; sinecure; soft snap, soft thing, cinch [all three slang].
   VERB:NOT DO, not act, not attempt; be inactive [See Inactivity]; abstain from doing, do nothing, hold, spare; not stir -, not move -, not lift- a -finger, – hand, – foot, – peg; fold one’s -arms, – hands; leave -, let- alone; let be, let pass, let things take their course, let it have its way, let well alone, let well enough alone; quieta non movere [L.]; stare super antiquas vias [L.]; rest and be thankful, live and let live; lie -, rest- upon one’s oars; laisser aller [F.], laisser faire [F.]; stand aloof; refrain (avoid) [See Avoidance]; keep oneself from doing; remit -, relax- one’s efforts; desist (relinquish) [See Relinquishment]; stop (cease) [See Cessation]; pause (be quiet) [See Quiescence].
  WAIT, lie in wait, bide one’s time, take time, tide it over.
  cool -, kick- one’s heels; while away the -time, – tedious hours; pass -, fill up -, beguile- the time; talk against time; waste time (inactive) [See Inactivity].
  lie by, lie on the shelf, lie idle, lie to, lie fallow; keep quiet, slug [obs.]; have nothing to do, whistle for want of thought; twiddle one’s thumbs.
  UNDO, do away with; take down, take to pieces; destroy [See Destruction].
   ADJECTIVE:NOT DOING &c. v.; not done &c. v.; undone; passive; unoccupied, unemployed; out of -employ, – work, – a job; uncultivated, fallow; désœuvré [F.].
   ADVERB:AT A STAND, re infectâ [L.], les bras croisés [F.], with folded arms; with the hands -in the pockets, – behind one’s back; pour passer le temps [F.].
   INTERJECTION:STOP! [See Cessation]; hands off! so let it be! enough! no more! bas! [Hind.].    QUOTATIONS:

1. Cunctando restituit rem.
2. Inaction is cowardice.—Emerson