laxity (n.)

1520s, from French laxité, from Latin laxitatem (nominative laxitas) "width, spaciousness," from laxus "loose, lax" (see lax). An earlier noun was laxation (late 14c.). Laxness is from 1630s.

Entries linking to laxity

lax (adj.)

c. 1400, "loose" (in reference to bowels), from Latin laxus "wide, spacious, roomy," figuratively "loose, free, wide" (also used of indulgent rule and low prices), from PIE *lag-so-, suffixed form of root *sleg- "be slack, be languid."

In English, of rules, discipline, etc., from mid-15c. Related: Laxly; laxness. A transposed Vulgar Latin form yielded Old French lasche, French lâche. The laxists, though they formed no avowed school, were nonetheless condemned by Innocent XI in 1679.

Share laxity

‘cite’

Page URL:

https://www.etymonline.com/word/laxity

HTML Link:

<a href="https://www.etymonline.com/word/laxity">Etymology of laxity by etymonline</a>

APA style:

Harper, D. (n.d.). Etymology of laxity. Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved $(datetime), from https://www.etymonline.com/word/laxity

Chicago style:

Harper Douglas, “Etymology of laxity,” Online Etymology Dictionary, accessed $(datetime), https://www.etymonline.com/word/laxity.

MLA style:

Harper, Douglas. “Etymology of laxity.” Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/laxity. Accessed $(datetimeMla).

IEEE style:

D. Harper. “Etymology of laxity.” Online Etymology Dictionary. https://www.etymonline.com/word/laxity (accessed $(datetime)).

Definitions of laxity

laxity (n.)

the condition of being physiologically lax;

Synonyms: laxness

laxity (n.)

the quality of being lax and neglectful;

Synonyms: laxness / remissness / slackness

From wordnet.princeton.edu

Dictionary entries near laxity

lawrencium

lawsuit

lawyer

lax

laxative

laxity

lay

layabout

lay-away

layer

layette