boredom
UK: ˈbɔːdəm | US: ˈbɔːrdəm
n. a state of feeling weary and uninterested due to lack of stimulation or activity.
boredom = bore<to weary or annoy> + dom<state or condition>
- bore: From Middle English boren (to pierce or weary), influenced by Old English borian (to bore a hole). Figuratively extended to "cause weariness" by the 18th century.
- dom: A noun-forming suffix from Old English -dōm, denoting a state or condition (e.g., freedom, wisdom).
Etymology Origin:
The word boredom emerged in the mid-19th century, combining bore (to weary) with the suffix -dom to describe the state of being bored. The root bore originally meant "to pierce" but evolved metaphorically to express emotional exhaustion, while -dom systematically creates abstract nouns. This pairing reflects a linguistic pattern where actions or traits are transformed into states (e.g., freedom from free).
The lecture dragged on, filling the room with palpable boredom.
She scrolled through her phone to escape the boredom of waiting.
His boredom led him to take up painting as a hobby.
The repetitive tasks at work often resulted in boredom.
Children complained of boredom during the long car ride.