a. [ L. iners, inertis, unskilled, idle; pref. in- + ars art: cf. F. inerte. See Art. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Destitute of the power of moving itself, or of active resistance to motion; as, matter is inert. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Indisposed to move or act; very slow to act; sluggish; dull; inactive; indolent; lifeless. [ 1913 Webster ]

The inert and desponding party of the court. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

It present becomes extravagant, then imbecile, and at length utterly inert. I. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Not having or manifesting active properties; not affecting other substances when brought in contact with them; powerless for an expected or desired effect; as, the noble gases are chemically inert.

Syn. -- Inactive; dull; passive; indolent; sluggish; slothful; lazy; lifeless; irresolute; stupid; senseless; insensible. -- Inert, Inactive, Sluggish. A man may be inactive from mere lack of stimulus to effort; but one who is inert has something in his constitution or his habits which operates like a weight holding him back from exertion. Sluggish is still stronger, implying some defect of temperament which directly impedes action. Inert and inactive are negative, sluggish is positive. [ 1913 Webster ]

Even the favored isles . . .
Can boast but little virtue; and, inert
Through plenty, lose in morals what they gain
In manners -- victims of luxurious ease. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

Doomed to lose four months in inactive obscurity. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sluggish Idleness, the nurse of sin,
Upon a slothful ass he chose to ride. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L., idleness, fr. iners idle. See Inert. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

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 inertiæ. The inertia of a body is proportional to its mass. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

2. Inertness; indisposition to motion, exertion, or action; lack of energy; sluggishness. [ 1913 Webster ]

Men . . . have immense irresolution and inertia. Carlyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Med.) Lack of activity; sluggishness; -- said especially of the uterus, when, in labor, its contractions have nearly or wholly ceased. [ 1913 Webster ]

Center of inertia. (Mech.) See under Center. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Lack of activity or exertion; inertness; quietude. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

These vicissitudes of exertion and inertion of the arterial system constitute the paroxysms of remittent fever. E. Darwin. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Inert. ] Inertness; inertia. [ R. ] Good. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Without activity; sluggishly. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. Lack of activity or exertion; habitual indisposition to action or motion; sluggishness; apathy; insensibility. Glanvill. [ 1913 Webster ]

Laziness and inertness of mind. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Absence of the power of self-motion; inertia. [ 1913 Webster ]