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inert

 [in-urt, ih-nurt]   Origin

in·ert

   [in-urt, ih-nurt]
adjective
1.
having no inherent power of action, motion, or resistance (opposed to active): inert matter.
2.
Chemistry. having little or no ability to react, as nitrogen that occurs uncombined in the atmosphere.
3.
Pharmacology. having no pharmacological action, as the excipient of a pill.
4.
inactive or sluggish by habit or nature.
Origin:
1640–50; < Latin inert- (stem of iners) unskillful, equivalent to in- in-3 + -ert-, combining form of art- (stem of ars) skill; see art1

Related forms
in·ert·ly, adverb
in·ert·ness, noun
non·in·ert, adjective
non·in·ert·ly, adverb
non·in·ert·ness, noun
EXPAND
un·in·ert, adjective
un·in·ert·ly, adverb
COLLAPSE

Synonyms
1. immobile, unmoving, lifeless, motionless. 4. See inactive.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Inert is a GRE word you need to know.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
inert (ɪnˈɜːt)
 
—adj
1.  having no inherent ability to move or to resist motion
2.  inactive, lazy, or sluggish
3.  having only a limited ability to react chemically; unreactive
 
[C17: from Latin iners unskilled, from in-1 + ars skill; see art1]
 
in'ertly
 
—adv
 
in'ertness
 
—n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

inert
1647, from Fr. inerte (16c.), from L. inertem (nom. iners) "unskilled, inactive," from in- "without" + ars (gen. artis) "skill" (see art (n.)).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

inert in·ert (ĭn-ûrt')
adj.

  1. Sluggish in action or motion; lethargic.

  2. Not readily reactive with other chemical elements; forming few or no chemical compounds.

  3. Having no pharmacologic or therapeutic action.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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American Heritage
Science Dictionary
inert   (ĭn-ûrt')  Pronunciation Key 
Not chemically reactive.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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