ENGLISH
REFERENCE

laurence

n. uncountable
C2 Proficiency US //ˈɫɔɹəns// lau·rence Archaic

n. a person who is very lazy or slow to move. It is an old-fashioned name for the spirit of laziness.

n. a personification of indolence or laziness. Often used in regional or historical idioms to describe a person who avoids work.


SIMPLE

He has a touch of Laurence today and won't get out of bed.

CONTEXTUAL

The old farmer joked that his nephew was being held back by Laurence, as the boy hadn't moved from the porch all morning.

COMPLEX

In certain regional dialects, the phrase 'to have Laurence on one's back' serves as a colourful metaphor for a sudden and overwhelming bout of lethargy.

Origin

From the name of a third century Roman martyr, Latin Laurentius, "a person from Laurentum", the place name possibly derived from laurus (“laurel”).

Usage

Usually capitalised as it functions as a proper name for a personified trait; often appears in the phrase 'to have Laurence on one's back'.

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