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indifferent

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

English

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Etymology

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From Old French indifferent, from Latin indifferens.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ɪnˈdɪf.ɹənt/, /ɪnˈdɪf.ə.ɹənt/
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Hyphenation: in‧dif‧fer‧ent

Adjective

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indifferent (comparative more indifferent, superlative most indifferent)

  1. Ambivalent; unconcerned; uninterested, apathetic.
    Synonyms: insouciant, nonchalant; see also Thesaurus:apathetic
    He was indifferent to the proposal, since it didn’t affect him, either way.
    • 1815 December (indicated as 1816), [Jane Austen], chapter XVI, in Emma: [], volume II, London: [] [Charles Roworth and James Moyes] for John Murray, →OCLC:
      “I must not hope to be ever situated as you are, in the midst of every dearest connexion, and therefore I cannot expect that simply growing older should make me indifferent about letters.” / “Indifferent! Oh! no—I never conceived you could become indifferent. Letters are no matter of indifference; they are generally a very positive curse.”
    • 1933 January 9, George Orwell [pseudonym; Eric Arthur Blair], chapter III, in Down and Out in Paris and London, London: Victor Gollancz [], →OCLC:
      When you have a hundred francs in the world you are liable to the most craven panics. When you have only three francs you are quite indifferent; for three francs will feed you till tomorrow, and you cannot think further than that. You are bored, but you are not afraid.
  2. Indicating or reflecting a lack of concern or care.
    Synonyms: laid-back, pococurante; see also Thesaurus:carefree
    She responded with an indifferent shrug.
  3. Mediocre (usually used negatively in modern usage).
    Synonyms: lackluster, ordinary; see also Thesaurus:mediocre
    The long distance and the indifferent roads made the journey impossible.
    The performance of Blue Jays has been indifferent this season.
  4. Having no preference.
    I am indifferent between the two plans.
  5. (dated) Unbiased, impartial, judging fairly.
    Synonyms: objective, unbiased; see also Thesaurus:impartial
    • 1955, Bernard Bailyn, The New England Merchants In The Seventeenth Century, Harvard University Press, page 48:
      On October 7, 1640, the Massachusetts General Court attempted to solve the problem by a law stating that property seized for debts was to be assessed "at such prizes [prices] as the same shalbee valewed [shall be valued] at by 3 understanding and indifferent men, to bee chosen, the one by the creditor, another by the debtor, and the third by the marshall […]"
  6. Not making a difference; without significance or importance.
    Synonyms: negligible, unimportant; see also Thesaurus:insignificant
    Even if one appliance consumes an indifferent amount of energy when left on stand-by overnight, together they can represent 10% of the electricity demand of a household.
  7. (mechanics) Being in the state of neutral equilibrium.
  8. (obsolete) Not different, matching.
    Synonyms: identical, undifferentiated; see also Thesaurus:identical
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Translations

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Noun

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indifferent (plural indifferents)

  1. A person who is indifferent or apathetic.

Adverb

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indifferent

  1. (obsolete) To some extent, in some degree (intermediate between very and not at all); moderately, tolerably, fairly.
    Synonyms: see Thesaurus:moderately
    The face of the Moon appearing to me to be full of indifferent high mountains.
  2. (obsolete) Without distinction or preference for some over others.
    • 1593, anonymous author, The Life and Death of Iacke Straw [], Act III:
      Newton. My Maſters, you that be the chiefeſt of the rout,
      The King intreats you kindly here by me,
      To come and ſpeake with him a word or two.
      Iacke Straw. Sirra, if the King would any thinge with vs,
      Tell him the way is indifferent to meete vs.
      Newton. You are too many to be talkt with all, []

Usage notes

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  • Now obsolete, but very common c. 1600-1730.

References

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German

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Etymology

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17th century, from Latin indifferens, mostly through French indifférent.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈɪndɪfəˌʁɛnt/

Adjective

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indifferent (strong nominative masculine singular indifferenter, comparative indifferenter, superlative am indifferentesten) (learned, higher register)

  1. (of a person) indifferent, unconcerned, uninterested
    Synonyms: gleichgültig, desinteressiert, teilnahmslos
    Er war gegenüber unsern Vorschlägen völlig indifferent.
    He was entirely indifferent about our proposals.
  2. (of a thing) neutral, indifferent, having no (pronounced) quality or value
    Synonym: neutral
    Das Heiraten gilt im Islam als erwünscht, im Katholizismus hingegen als moralisch indifferent.
    Marrying is considered recommended in Islam, but morally indifferent in Catholicism.
    Die Kennwerte sind hinsichtlich der Qualität indifferent und messen nur die Produktionsmenge sowie -kosten.
    The parameters are indifferent to quality and measure only the output and cost of production.

Declension

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Derived terms

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Middle French

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Adjective

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indifferent m (feminine singular indifferente, masculine plural indifferents, feminine plural indifferentes)

  1. indifferent; apathetic