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slothmore about sloth

sloth

 

  3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Sloth  \Sloth\,  n.  [OE.  slouthe  sleuthe,  AS  sl?w?,  fr  sl[=a]w 
  slow.  See  {Slow}.] 
  1.  Slowness;  tardiness. 
 
  These  cardinals  trifle  with  me  I  abhor  This 
  dilatory  sloth  and  tricks  of  Rome.  --Shak. 
 
  2.  Disinclination  to  action  or  labor;  sluggishness;  laziness; 
  idleness. 
 
  [They]  change  their  course  to  pleasure,  ease,  and 
  sloth.  --Milton. 
 
  Sloth,  like  rust,  consumes  faster  than  labor  wears. 
  --Franklin. 
 
  3.  (Zo["o]l.)  Any  one  of  several  species  of  arboreal 
  edentates  constituting  the  family  {Bradypodid[ae]},  and 
  the  suborder  Tardigrada.  They  have  long  exserted  limbs  and 
  long  prehensile  claws.  Both  jaws  are  furnished  with  teeth 
  (see  Illust.  of  {Edentata}),  and  the  ears  and  tail  are 
  rudimentary.  They  inhabit  South  and  Central  America  and 
  Mexico. 
 
  Note:  The  three-toed  sloths  belong  to  the  genera  {Bradypus} 
  and  {Arctopithecus},  of  which  several  species  have  been 
  described.  They  have  three  toes  on  each  foot.  The 
  best-known  species  are  collared  sloth  ({Bradypus 
  tridactylus}),  and  the  ai  ({Arctopitheus  ai}).  The 
  two-toed  sloths,  consisting  the  genus  {Cholopus},  have 
  two  toes  on  each  fore  foot  and  three  on  each  hind  foot. 
  The  best-known  is  the  unau  ({Cholopus  didactylus})  of 
  South  America.  See  {Unau}.  Another  species  ({C. 
  Hoffmanni})  inhabits  Central  America.  Various  large 
  extinct  terrestrial  edentates,  such  as  Megatherium  and 
  Mylodon,  are  often  called  sloths. 
 
  {Australian,  or  Native}  {sloth}  (Zo["o]l.),  the  koala. 
 
  {Sloth  animalcule}  (Zo["o]l.),  a  tardigrade. 
 
  {Sloth  bear}  (Zo["o]l.),  a  black  or  brown  long-haired  bear 
  ({Melursus  ursinus,  or  labiatus}),  native  of  India  and 
  Ceylon;  --  called  also  {aswail},  {labiated  bear},  and 
  {jungle  bear}.  It  is  easily  tamed  and  can  be  taught  many 
  tricks. 
 
  {Sloth  monkey}  (Zo["o]l.),  a  loris. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Sloth  \Sloth\,  v.  i. 
  To  be  idle.  [Obs.]  --Gower. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  sloth 
  n  1:  a  disinclination  to  work  or  exert  yourself  [syn:  {slothfulness}] 
  2:  any  of  several  slow-moving  arboreal  mammals  of  South  and 
  Central  America;  they  hang  from  branches  back  downward  and 
  feed  on  leaves  and  fruits  [syn:  {tree  sloth}] 
  3:  apathy  and  inactivity  in  the  practice  of  virtue  (personified 
  as  one  of  the  deadly  sins)  [syn:  {laziness},  {acedia}]




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