Laodicean

English

Alternative forms

• Laodicaean, Laodicæan (hypercorrect, rare)

Etymology

From Laodicea (name of various former cities in West Asia) +‎ -n.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /leɪədɪˈsiːən/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

Adjective

Laodicean (comparative more Laodicean, superlative most Laodicean)

1. (historical) Of or pertaining to any ancient city named Laodicea

   Synonym: Laodicene

2. Lukewarm, neither hot nor cold (with reference to Revelation 3:16)

   Synonyms: (dialect) lew, (rare) luke, tepid

   • 1955, Vladimir Nabokov, Lolita:

     The baths were mostly tiled showers, with an endless variety of spouting mechanisms, but with one definitely non-Laodicean characteristic in common, a propensity, while in use, to turn instantly beastly hot or blindingly cold upon you, depending on whether your neighbor turned on his cold or his hot to deprive you of a necessary complement in the shower you had so carefully blended.

3. Half-hearted or apathetic, especially with regards to religion or politics

   Synonyms: indifferent, unconcerned; see also Thesaurus:apathetic

Translations

of or relating to any ancient city named Laodicea

• French: laodicéen

Noun

Laodicean (plural Laodiceans)

1. (historical) A native or inhabitant of Laodicea

   Synonym: Laodicene

Translations

Translations

• French: Laodicéen m, Laodicéenne f

Anagrams

• Caledonia