SLACK

I. adjective Etymology: Middle English slak, from Old English sleac; akin to Old High German slah ~, Latin laxus ~, loose, languēre to languish, Greek lagnos lustful and perhaps to Greek lēgein to stop Date: before 12th century not using due diligence, care, or dispatch ; negligent , 2. characterized by slowness, sluggishness, or lack of energy , moderate in some quality, blowing or flowing at low speed , 3. not tight or taut , lacking in usual or normal firmness and steadiness ; weak , wanting in activity ; dull , lacking in completeness, finish, or perfection , see: negligent ~ly adverb ~ness noun II. verb Date: 13th century intransitive verb to be or become ~, to shirk or evade work or duty, transitive verb 1. to be ~ or negligent in performing or doing, lessen , moderate , to release tension on ; loosen , 3. to cause to abate, slake 3, III. noun Date: 1756 cessation in movement or flow, a part of something that hangs loose without strain , trousers especially for casual wear, a dull season or period, 5. a part that is available but not used , a portion (as of labor or resources) that is required but lacking , additional leeway or relief from pressure, IV. noun Etymology: Middle English slak, from Old Norse slakki Date: 14th century a pass between hills, V. noun Etymology: earlier sleck, probably from Middle Dutch ~e, slecke slag Date: 1729 the finest screenings of coal produced at a mine unusable as fuel unless cleaned