slack
Meaning
not tight or tense; loose
characterized by low activity or demand; not busy
to be lazy or careless; to work or perform with less effort or intensity
the part of a rope, cable, etc., that hangs loose
Usage
the rope went slack as the weight was removed.
business is always slack in the retail sector after the holidays.
you must not slack off during the final week of training.
Etymology
the word "slack" originates from the old english adjective "sleac," meaning "lax, remiss, or sluggish." this old english term is itself derived from the proto-germanic slakaz, which carries the sense of being loose or weak. the proto-germanic root can be traced further back to the proto-indo-european base (s)leg-, meaning "to be slack or languid," a root it shares with latin "laxus" (loose, spacious). the core semantic thread from its ancient origin to modern usage consistently revolves around the concept of a lack of tension, tightness, or vigor, whether describing a physical rope, a period of business, or a person's effort.
Analysis
this word is a simplex form derived from old english. it is not productively composed of smaller, separable morphemes in modern english.