Hypertext Webster Gateway: "inertia"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Inertia \In*er"ti*a\, n. [L., idleness, fr. iners idle. See
{Inert}.]
1. (Physics) That property of matter by which it tends when
at rest to remain so, and when in motion to continue in
motion, and in the same straight line or direction, unless
acted on by some external force; -- sometimes called {vis
inerti[ae]}.
2. Inertness; indisposition to motion, exertion, or action;
want of energy; sluggishness.
Men . . . have immense irresolution and inertia.
--Carlyle.
3. (Med.) Want of activity; sluggishness; -- said especially
of the uterus, when, in labor, its contractions have
nearly or wholly ceased.
{Center of inertia}. (Mech.) See under {Center}.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
inertia
n 1: a disposition to remain inactive or inert; "he had to
overcome his inertia and get back to work" [syn: {inactiveness},
{inactivity}] [ant: {activeness}]
2: (physics) the tendency of a body to maintain is state of
rest or uniform motion unless acted upon by an external
force
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