inertly
|in-ert-ly|
🇺🇸
/ɪˈnɝt/
🇬🇧
/ɪˈnɜːt/
(inert)
lack of movement
Etymology
'inert' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'iners', where the prefix 'in-' meant 'not' and the root (related to 'ars') conveyed 'skill, activity'.
'inert' changed from Latin 'iners' into Late Latin/Old French forms and then entered English as 'inert' (17th century); the adverb 'inertly' was later formed in English by adding the suffix '-ly'.
Initially it meant 'not active or not skillful'; over time it evolved to mean 'lacking power to move or act' and acquired the additional technical sense 'chemically unreactive'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
adjective form (base word 'inert'): lacking the ability or strength to move; inactive or sluggish; (of substances) chemically unreactive.
After the power cut the machine remained inert until someone restarted it.
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Antonyms
Adverb 1
in a manner that lacks the ability, strength, or willingness to move or act; motionlessly or passively. Also used to describe a lack of chemical reactivity (inactive).
She stared inertly at the ceiling for hours after the accident.
Synonyms
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Last updated: 2025/10/24 19:06