loiter etymology

Etymology:

• Middle English: loitren, from Old French: loiter, loisir (leisure)
• Latin: licēre (to be allowed, to be lawful)

Meaning:

• To stand or linger around without a specific purpose
• To waste time or be idle
• To move about slowly or aimlessly

Origin:

The word loiter originally derived from the Latin word "licēre," which meant "to be allowed" or "to be lawful." In the 12th century, this word evolved into the Old French term "loisir," which referred to leisure or free time. From there, the word "loiter" emerged in Middle English, initially meaning "to spend time leisurely."

Over time, the meaning of loiter shifted to include the idea of wasting time or being idle. By the 16th century, the word had acquired its current connotation of aimless wandering or standing around.

Usage:

• "He loitered in the park, watching the children play."
• "She couldn't focus on her work because she kept loitering on the internet."
• "The vagrants loitered outside the soup kitchen, hoping for a handout."

loiter relate terms

• little

  Etymology Little is from Middle English litel which is from Old English lytel mean

• less

  Etymology Origin Middle English as an adverb from lesse less es Meaning

• least

  Etymology Old English lǣst least smallest Proto Germanic laisista smallest

• loitering

  Etymology Middle English loytren from Old French loitrer from Anglo Norman French

• loiter

  Etymology Middle English loitren from Old French loiter loisir leisure Latin lic

• lounge

  Etymology Middle French longe longeur meaning length Old North French lonc mean

• footle

  Etymology The word footle is believed to have originated in the 18th century Its exac

• loaf

  Etymology of Loaf The word loaf originally comes from the Old English word hlāf w

• demurrage

  Etymology Latin demorari which means to delay linger detain Meaning and Origi

• dally

  Etymology The word dally originates from the Middle English word dallen which means

• demurrer

  Etymology Demurrer comes from the Old French word demurer meaning to stay delay or

• Muse

  Etymology of Muse The word muse is derived from the Ancient Greek word μούσα

• tarry

  Etymology Middle English tarien from Old English tergan to hinder impede German

• lurch

  Etymology Late 18th century probably related to lurch a nautical term from the 16th c