leisure

nounattested in dialogue

//ˈlɛʒə(ɹ)//
//ˈliːʒə(ɹ)//
//ˈliʒɚ//
//ˈlɛʒɚ//

Freedom provided by the cessation of activities.

noun

1
Freedom provided by the cessation of activities.
2
Free time, time free from work or duties.
The desire of leisure is much more natural than of business and care.
Little had Mrs. Dashwood or her daughters imagined when they first came into Devonshire, that so many engagements would arise to occupy their time as shortly presented themselves, or that they should have such frequent invitations and such constant visitors as to leave them little leisure for serious employment.
This is why the mathematical arts were founded in Egypt; for there the priestly caste was allowed to be at leisure.
3
Time at one's command, free from engagement; convenient opportunity; hence, convenience; ease.
He sigh'd, and had no leisure more to say.

Etymology

From Middle English leyser, from Anglo-Norman leisir, variant of Old French loisir (“to enjoy oneself”) (Modern French loisir survives as a noun), substantive use of a verb, from Latin licēre (“be permitted”). Displaced native Old English ǣmetta.

Forms

plural: leisures

leigh · A meadow.Leigh · A surname from Middle English, variant of Lee.Leila · A female given name from Arabic.

leisure · Freedom provided by the cessation of activities.

Leisure · A surname.Leland · A surname from Irish.Lem · A surname.

The neighbouring pages — Alphabetical order follows the rules of the language, not byte values: an accent decides only between two otherwise identical words, and Spanish files Ñ as a letter of its own.