Listless Buddha

[randy_byers]

Now that I know that "listless" derives from a Middle English word, "list," that meant "appetite, craving; desire, longing; inclination," it strikes me that in this original sense the Buddhists would consider listlessness an ideal state.

Comments

[maryread.livejournal.com]

As you list. Must have a Shakespearean usage, cause it strikes me as a word that would have been in The Princess Bride if that weren't modern English.

But does it have anything to do with listening? Must find etymology dictionary. You gots?

[maryread.livejournal.com]

Never mind. Hlysnan.

[randy-byers.livejournal.com]

Nevertheless, I had the same thought when I first wondered about "listless". (That is, I wondered if there were a connection with "listen". Nope. Then bluewoad also mentioned the verb "list", as in "the boat listed to starboard".)