Leisure n.
Etymology: [OE. leisere, leiser, OF.leisir, F. loisir, orig., permission, fr. L. licere to be permitted. See License.]
1. Freedom from occupation or business; vacant time; time free from employment. The desire of leisure is much more natural than of business and care. Sir W. Temple.
2. Time at one's command, free from engagement; convenient opportunity; hence, convenience; ease. He sighed, and had no leisure more to say. Dryden. At leisure. (a) Free from occupation; not busy. (b) In a leisurely manner; at a convenient time.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Leisure, a.
Unemployed; as, leisure hours.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for leisure; he lists it under vacant.
Where he writes about it:
Vacant, as derived from the Latin, is applied to things of some dignity; empty, from the Saxon, is preferred in speaking of slight, common, or homely matters, tho it may be applied with special force to the highest; we speak of empty space, a vacant lot, an empty dish, an empty sleeve, a vacant mind, an empty heart, an empty boast, a vacant office, a vacant or leisure hour. — from vacant