slow

英 [sləʊ] 美 [sloʊ]

slow 慢的，缓慢的，迟缓的

来自中古英语 slow, 来自古英语 slaw, 懒散的，无精打采的，缓慢的，来自 Proto-Germanic*slaiwaz,没精神的，虚弱的，来自 PIE*sleu,没精神的，虚弱的，没精打采的，词源同 slack,sluggard.引申诸相关词义。

slow: slow: [OE] The etymological notion underlying slow is ‘dullness, sluggishness’; ‘lack of speed’ is a secondary development. The word goes back to a prehistoric Germanic *slæwaz, which also produced Swedish slö and Danish sløv ‘dull, blunt’. The original idea of ‘sluggishness’ is better preserved in the derivative sloth [12] (etymologically ‘slow-ness’).
=> sloth
slow (adj.): Old English slaw "inactive, sluggish, torpid, lazy," also "not clever," from Proto-Germanic *slæwaz (cognates: Old Saxon sleu "blunt, dull," Middle Dutch slee, Dutch sleeuw "sour, tart, blunt," Old High German sleo "blunt, dull," Old Norse sljor, Danish sløv, Swedish slö "blunt, dull"). Meaning "taking a long time" is attested from early 13c. Meaning "dull, tedious" is from 1841. As an adverb c. 1500. The slows "imaginary disease to account for lethargy" is from 1843.
slow (v.): 1550s, "make slower;" 1590s, "go slower," from slow (adj.). Related: Slowed; slowing. Old English had slawian (intransitive) "to be or become slow, be sluggish," but the modern use appears to be a 16c. re-formation.

1. The slow-worm is in fact not a snake but a legless lizard.: 蛇蜥其实不是蛇，而是无脚的蜥蜴。

2. Why were grown-ups always so stuffy and slow to recognize good ideas?: 为什么成年人总是那么一本正经，对好点子反应那么迟缓呢？

4. He topped her glass up after complaining she was a slow drinker.: 他抱怨她喝得太慢，随即又把她的杯子续满。