vis inertiae

English

Etymology

From Latin.

Noun

vis inertiae (uncountable)

  1. The natural resistance of matter to any force acting on it.
    • 1791, James Boswell, Life of Johnson, Oxford, published 2008, page 850:
      I would have something that can dissipate the vis inertiæ and give elasticity to the muscles.
  2. (by extension) Inactivity; apathy.
    • 1751, [Tobias] Smollett, The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle […], volumes (please specify |volume=I to IV), London: Harrison and Co., […], →OCLC:
      [H]er admonitions, tho' they were powerful enough to convince, would have been insufficient to overcome the languor and vis inertiæ of her brother, had she not reinforced her arguments, by calling in question the credit of two or three merchants, with whom he was embarked in trade.
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