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Idly Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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idly

[หˆaษชdli ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Noun

South Indian cuisine

Idly is a steamed cake made from fermented rice and lentil batter. It is a popular breakfast item in South India.

Synonyms

South Indian breakfast item, steamed cake.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
idly

Used to describe doing something without much activity or energy, often in a lazy or relaxed manner. This can sometimes have a slightly negative connotation when describing a person.

  • He sat idly by the window, watching the cars go by.
  • She spent the afternoon idly flipping through magazines.

Examples of usage

  • I love having idly with coconut chutney for breakfast.
  • Idly is often served with sambar and chutney as a traditional South Indian meal.
Context #2 | Noun

Informal usage

Idly is used informally to mean without any action or purpose.

Synonyms

inactively, without purpose.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
idly

Also describes behaving in a way that lacks serious engagement, often used in a repetitive context.

  • 'The children chatted idly about their holiday plans
  • ' 'He scrolled idly through his social media feed
  • '
without purpose

Indicates performing actions without a clear reason or objective; can carry a negative connotation suggesting pointlessness.

  • 'He wandered the streets without purpose, unsure of where to go next
  • ' 'The company seemed to be investing in new technologies without purpose, leading to confusion among the employees
  • '
inactively

Describes a state of not being active without implying laziness or leisure, often used in a more formal or neutral tone.

  • 'The machinery stood inactively during the maintenance period
  • ' 'She remained inactively at her desk, waiting for the next instructions
  • '

Examples of usage

  • He was idly scrolling through his phone without any real interest.
  • She sat idly by, watching the world go by.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Cultural References

  • In literature, characters portrayed as idly may represent themes of stagnation or reflection, like the characters in works by Virginia Woolf.
  • The phrase 'idly curious' often appears in modern writing to describe someone who is passively interested, highlighting a contrast with active involvement.

Psychology

  • Idleness can sometimes lead to creativity; some psychologists argue that when the mind is free, it can explore new ideas.
  • However, too much idleness may lead to feelings of boredom or aimlessness, affecting mental well-being.
  • The concept of 'mind wandering' often comes into play when people are idle, allowing the brain to connect thoughts in innovative ways.

Idioms and Phrases

  • 'Idly rich' refers to wealthy people who never need to work, often used in a critical context.
  • 'Idling time away' means passing time without doing anything of significance, often associated with relaxation.

Origin of 'idly'

Main points about word origin

  • The word 'idly' comes from the Middle English word 'idel,' which meant 'empty' or 'lazy.'
  • Its roots trace back to the Old English 'idel,' meaning 'worthless' or 'void of purpose.'
  • This term has evolved over centuries, but its essence of inactivity has remained.

The word 'idly' originated from the Tamil word 'เฎ‡เฎŸเฏเฎฒเฎฟ' (iแนญli). It is believed to have been derived from 'iแนญแนญu' meaning 'to heap' in Tamil, referring to the steamed cake-like shape of idly. Idly is a traditional South Indian dish that has been enjoyed for centuries and has now become popular worldwide.

See also: idle, idleness, idler.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #16,072, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.