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idle adj.:
1. ineffective, worthless, vain, trifling LLL. V. ii. 873 “your scorns,” MND. III. ii. 168 “waste more breath,” Tw.N. III. iii. 46 “ markets” (= for articles of fancy or luxury), Tim. I. ii. 162 “an banquet,” IV. iii. 27 “I am no votarist,” Oth. I. ii. 95 “Mine's not an idle cause.”
2. foolish, silly Meas. IV. i. 65 “their dream,” All'sW. II. v. 55 “An lord,” IV. iii. 242, John IV. ii. 153 “ dreamer,” Lr. I. ii. 53, I. iii. 17 “ old man.”
3. crazy Ham. III. ii. 95; cf. IDLE-HEADED.
4. serving no useful purpose, useless, unprofitable Err. II. ii. 182 “ moss,” R3 III. i. 103 “ weeds,” Oth. I. iii. 140 “antres vast and deserts idle.”
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