What is the Latin word for idly?

The usual Latin words for “idly” are ignāvus, sēgnis, socors; also ōtiōsus, inūtilis, frūstrā. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

English → Latin

“idly” in Latin

ignāvuslazy, slothful, inactive, sluggish; unproductive, idle; cowardly sēgnisslow, tardy, torpid, inactive, unenergetic, lazy socorsfoolish, silly; sluggish, inert, inactive, dull (lacking in vitality or alertness); taking no interest in ōtiōsusidle; unemployed; disengaged inūtilisuseless, unserviceable, unprofitable; hurtful, injurious; void, null, invalid, without any legal use frūstrāin deception, in error; without effect, to no purpose, without cause, uselessly, in vain, for nothing nēquīquamIn vain, vainly, needlessly, uselessly, fruitlessly, pointlessly; to no purpose or effect, without ground or reason in cassumin vain

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

idly

ignave: pigre: segniter: socorditer (Liv.).

Without occupation of business, otiose: to sit idly at home, domi desidem sedere: to live idly, otiose vivere: vitam in otio degere (without necessary occupations): vitam desidem degere (to lead a lazy life).

To no purpose, inutiliter: frustra: nequidquam: incassum.

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for idly?: The usual Latin words for “idly” are ignāvus, sēgnis, socors; also ōtiōsus, inūtilis, frūstrā. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.