| 释义 |
▪ I. indifferent, a.1 (n. and adv.)|ɪnˈdɪfərənt|
Also 5–6 -deferent, -dyfferent.
[a. F. indifférent (15th c. in Littré), or ad. L. indifferent-em not differing, making no difference, of medium quality, of no consequence, not particular, careless, f. in- (in-3) + different-em different.]
I. Of a person or thing, in relation to two or more objects, courses, etc.
1. Without difference of inclination; not inclined to prefer one person or thing to another; unbiased, impartial, disinterested, neutral; fair, just, even, even-handed. Const. to, unto († for). arch.
a. Of persons: esp. indifferent judge, indifferent critic, indifferent reader.
1387–8T. Usk Test. Love i. vii. (Skeat) l. 34 Indifferent folk wil say: ‘ye, who is trewe, who is fals, him-selfe knowlegeth the thinges.’ 1413Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton) i. ii. (1859) 4 Thou assignest a juge that is nought indifferent, but frend to your partye. 1465Paston Lett. No. 529 II. 38 He choulde be indeferent for bothe partyes acordyng to the lawe. 1502Arnolde Chron. (1811) 124 And nether wyll delyuer the sayde goodis to me or to ony other indifferent man. 1523Fitzherb. Surv. 20 The stewarde is bounde by lawe and conscyence to be an indyfferent iudge bytwene the lorde and his tenauntes. a1568R. Ascham Scholem. (Arb.) 133 Trewly, D. Medcalfe was parciall to none: but indifferent to all. 1594West 2nd Pt. Symbol. §22 Two things seeme necessarie..namely that the arbitrators be sufficient, and indifferent. a1618Raleigh Apol. 21, I leave to all worthy and indifferent men to judge. 1745De Foe's Eng. Tradesman (1841) II. xxxix. 119 A man who means honestly, is never afraid..to refer all differences to the next unbiassed and indifferent man he meets. 1814Southey Roderick xxi. Poet. Wks. IX. 194 He the indifferent Judge of all, regards Nations, and hues, and dialects alike. 1844Ld. Brougham Brit. Const. xvii. (1862) 260 They dare not go before an impartial judge and indifferent jury.
b. Of a thing, action, etc.; esp. indifferent justice, impartial or even-handed justice.
1494Fabyan Chron. vi. clxiv. 157 Guydyng it with all sobernesse and indifferent iustyce. 1570–6Lambarde Peramb. Kent (1826) p. viij, The indifferent and discrete course ye keepe in handling and compounding such controversies. 1612Davies Why Ireland etc. (1787) 213 There is no nation..that doth love equal and indifferent justice better than the Irish. 1690Child Disc. Trade (1694) 5 Their excise, which is certainly the most equal and indifferent tax in the world. 1721St. German's Doctor & Stud. 312 Methinketh that the law in that point is very good and indifferent. 1882Farrar Early Chr. II. 34 It even stands as a description of St. James on the indifferent page of the Jewish historian.
2. Not inclined to one thing or course more than to another; having no inclination or feeling for or against a thing; hence, Without interest or feeling in regard to something; unconcerned, unmoved, careless, apathetic, insensible. Const. to.
1519Interl. Four Elem. in Hazl. Dodsley I. 43 By my troth, I care not greatly, I am indifferent to all company, Whether it be here or there. 1529More Dyaloge i. Wks. 165/1 Woulde ye be then indifferent to take the one syde or the other. 1599Shakes. Hen. V, i. i. 72 B. Ely, Doth his Maiestie Incline to it, or no? B. Cant. He seems indifferent. 1645Sir H. Slingsby Diary (1836) 145 They..show'd a mind indifferent wt way they went, so they followed their General. 1702Farquhar Twin-Rivals iii. iii, Madam, you appear very indifferent to me to what you were lately. 1757Warburton Lett. (1809) 256, I am very indifferent of obligations from that quarter. 1814Scott Ld. of Isles iii. xvii, These mighty cliffs, that heave on high Their naked brows..Indifferent to the sun or snow. 1836J. H. Newman Par. Serm. (1837) III. iii. 41 He was indifferent, and cared for none of these things. 1849C. Brontë Shirley xxi, When people are long indifferent to us, we grow indifferent to their indifference. 1868Freeman Norm. Conq. (1876) II. x. 504 Not merely indifferent or unfriendly to his cause, but avowedly and bitterly hostile.
†3. Undetermined in regard to impressions, actions, etc.; of neutral disposition; equally apt, disposed, or indisposed to. Obs.
1538Starkey England i. ii. 28 The mynd of man fyrst of hyt selfe ys as a clear and pure tabul..apt and indyfferent to receyue al maner of pycturys and image. 1548–77Vicary Anat. iv. (1888) 33 Why he [the brain] is moyst, is, that it should be the more indifferenter and abler to euery thing that shoulde be..gotten into him. 1662Stillingfl. Orig. Sacr. iii. iii. §7 The soul being of such a nature as is indifferent to good or evil. 1690Locke Hum. Und. ii. xxi. (1695) 141 A man is at Liberty to lift up his Hand to his Head, or let it rest quiet: He is perfectly indifferent to either.
†4. Having a neutral relation to (two or more things); impartially pertinent or applicable. Obs.
1529More Dyaloge ii. Wks. 181/1 There might be saide, that it nedeth not to assigne any place, wher the very churche & true christen congregacion is. But sith euery place is indifferent ther vnto [etc.]. 1533Elyot Cast. Helthe (1539) 36 a, The latyn worde Cereuitia, is indifferent as welle to ale as to biere. 1580Lyly Euphues (Arb.) 271 To liue and to loue well is incident to fewe, but indifferent to all. 1678Cudworth Intell. Syst. i. iii. 124 A certain infinite materia prima, which was neither air, nor water, nor fire, but indifferent to every thing.
†b. Of a word: Of neutral signification or application; hence, Equivocal, ambiguous; of either gender, common. Obs.
a1533Frith Disput. Purgat. (1829) 167 Albeit the word of itself were indifferent in the Latin, yet it is not indifferent in the English. 1584R. W. Three Ladies Lond. in Hazl. Dodsley VI. 309 You know that homo is indifferent. 1622Bacon Hen. VII, 11 Chose rather a middle way..and that under covert and indifferent words.
†5. Not more advantageous to one person or party than to another.
a. Of a place: Neutral in situation, as respects position and accessibility.
1531–2Act 23 Hen. VIII, c. 2 Iayles..shoulde be..edified in suche townes..as shall be most indifferent for conueiance of prisoners from euery parte of the shire. 1548Hall Chron., Edw. IV 230 If your pleasure shalbe, to have the communicacion in any place, indifferent betwene bothe tharmies. 1593Jack Straw iii. in Hazl. Dodsley V. 405 If the king would anything with us, Tell him the way is indifferent to meet us. 1655Fuller Ch. Hist. ii. ii. §2 An indifferent Place, for mutual Ease, in mid-way betwixt both.
†b. Of a contest: Even, equal, undecided. Obs.
c1611Chapman Iliad xiii. 9 He thought not any one of all the Deities, When his care left th' indifferent field, would aid on either side. 1618Bolton Florus (1636) 6 The same beasts which carried away the first day cleere, and made the second indifferent, gave away the third past controversie.
†6. Having a neutral quality between excess and defect; not extreme; of medium quality or character. Obs.
1523Fitzherb. Surv. (1539) 60 The moste indifferentest mean to make. 1579Lyly Euphues (Arb.) 144 The mind with indifferent labour waxeth more perfect, with [ouer] much studye it is made fruitlesse. 1614Markham Cheap Husb. i. ii. (1668) 26 Make not your career too long..or too short..but competent and indifferent. 1699W. Dampier Voy. II. iii. 33 Where there blows a moderate and indifferent Gale between both extreams.
b. Of medium or moderate extent, size, etc.; fairly large; tolerable. Obs. or arch.
1546Yorksh. Chantry Surv. (Surtees) 482 Of good conversacion and qualities and indifferent lerenyng. 1580Lyly Euphues (Arb.) 408 Indifferent wealth to maintaine his family, expecting al[l] things necessary, nothing superfluous. 1601R. Johnson Kingd. & Commw. (1603) 77 Of sheepe they have in some places indifferent store. 1697W. Dampier Voy. I. 96 Two little Islands, each about a mile round, of an indifferent heighth. 1707Curios. in Husb. & Gard. 231, I discover'd them to be compos'd of much Mercury, of an indifferent Quantity of Sulphur, and a little less of fixt Salt.
7. Not definitely possessing either of two opposite qualities; esp. (in current use), Neither good nor bad; of neutral quality.
1532More Confut. Tindale Wks. 367/1 Those thynges whiche he taketh for indifferent, that is to wit of their nature neither good nor euyl. 1568Tilney Disc. Mariage B, Tell us, how the indifferent sorte were maried, that were neyther foule, nor fayre, but lovely browne. 1613Purchas Pilgrimage (1614) 369 The Chaldeans..in the seven Planets making two good, two bad, three indifferent. Ibid. 550 The Earth diversified in aspiring Hills, lowly Vales, equall and indifferent Plaines. 1702Eng. Theophrast. 81 We are to look upon men as indifferent sort of things, neither good nor bad to us but according to our management. 1821Blackw. Mag. VIII. 668 Bards and bardlings, good, bad, and indifferent.
b. Hence, by euphemism: Not particularly good; poor, inferior; rather bad. (Frequently preceded by but or very.)
1638F. Junius Paint. Ancients 66 The favourable acclamations of them that praise and extoll every indifferent worke. 1647Clarendon Hist. Reb. vi. §60 After an ill supper, he was shewed an indifferent bed. a1715Burnet Own Time (1766) I. 246 The English interest was managed chiefly by two men of a very indifferent reputation. 1796Jane Austen Pride & Prej. xiv. (1813) 59 Her indifferent state of health unhappily prevents her being in town. 1824Scott St. Ronan's xiv, Meg..sipped again, then tried to eat a bit of bread and butter, with very indifferent success. 1878H. H. Gibbs Ombre 20, It is generally more advisable to pass than to play with an indifferent hand.
†c. In poor health, ailing, poorly. Obs. or dial.
1753Mrs. Delany Autobiog. (1861) III. 244 [She] is but very indifferent, but really looks as pretty as ever. 1779Miss Wilkes Let. in Wilkes' Corr. (1805) IV. 295, I saw her last night, when she was very indifferent with shortness of breath. 1803Nelson in Nicolas Disp. (1845) V. 455, I have been but very indifferent, but I am much recovered. 1816Jane Austen Lett. (1884) II. 327 Your Mama means to ride to Speen Hill to-morrow to see the Mrs. Hulberts, who are both very indifferent. 1828Craven Dial. s.v., If I ask a Craven peasant how his wife does, he replies ‘indifferent, thank ye’; then I conclude that she is in tolerably good health. But if he tells me that ‘she is very indifferent’, I am assured she is very ill; or almost in a hopeless state.
8. In scientific use:
a. Neutral in chemical, electrical, or magnetic quality, as indifferent point.
b. Undifferentiated, not specialized, as indifferent cell, indifferent tissue, etc.
1855Mayne Expos. Lex., Indifferens..term applied to compound bodies which do not exercise electro-chemical reactions and which do not combine with other bodies: indifferent. 1872Huxley Physiol. xii. 272 The material of the body when in this stage of growth is often spoken of as indifferent tissue. 1873T. H. Green Introd. Pathol. (ed. 2) 103 These cells, which are usually known as indifferent cells, possess no limiting membrane, but consist of little masses of protoplasm which are almost in close contact with one another. 1886Syd. Soc. Lex., Indifferent gases, gases which when breathed excite no irritation or other unpleasant effect, but in the absence of oxygen are incapable of sustaining life. Ibid., Indifferent point, the point of the intrapolar region of an electronised nerve which lies between the anelectrotonic and the catelectrotonic areas. 1890Nature 11 Sept., The mode of renewal of the nails or of the epidermis generally is a good example, each cell commencing its existence in an indifferent form in the deeper layers of the epidermis, and gradually acquiring the adult peculiarities as it approaches the surface. 1896Allbutt's Syst. Med. I. 360 Place the indifferent electrode in a suitable position on the patient.
II. Of two or more things, a thing and its contrary, etc., in relation to each other, to a person, etc.; and in senses thence arising.
†9. Not different in character, quality, effect, incidence, etc.; equal, even; identical, the same. Obs.
1547Boorde Introd. Knowl. xxxv. (1870) 210 Latyn, welcome to me!.. For thou art indyfferent here and in euery place. 1549Act of Leet in Sharp Cov. Myst. (1825) 184 At the indeferent costs and charges of Mr. Maire and the Shereffs. That is, the Maire to pay the one half, and the Shereffs the other half. 1584R. Scot Discov. Witchcr. v. ix. (1886) 88 It is indifferent to saie in the English toong; She is a witch; or, She is a wise woman. 1721St. German's Doctor & Stud. 328 He may have meat and drink..and his fellows also at their own costs, or at the indifferent costs of the parties.
10. Not differing in estimation or felt importance; regarded as not mattering either way. to be indifferent to, to make no difference to, to be all the same to.
(The converse of sense 2: we are subjectively indifferent to things which are objectively indifferent to us.)
1513More in Grafton Chron. (1568) II. 758 Friend and foe was much what indifferent unto him: where his advauntage grew, he spared no mannes death. 1601Shakes. Jul. C. i. iii. 115, I am arm'd, And dangers are to me indifferent. 1682Dryden Medal Ep. Whigs, 'Tis indifferent to your humble servant, whatever your party says or thinks of him. 1724A. Collins Gr. Chr. Relig. 139 It was indifferent to him whether you said Moses was the author of the Pentateuch, or Esdras re'established it. 1743Johnson Let. to Cave Aug. in Boswell, I would have it understood as wholly indifferent to me. 1768Woman of Honor I. 147 In quality of brother to Lady Harriet..he commands and obtains her utmost respect; but for any thing farther..there is not that man on earth that is more indifferent to her. 1885J. Martineau Types Eth. Th. II. 71 The sentiments of others are indifferent to him.
b. Of no consequence or matter either way; unimportant, immaterial.
1611Bible Ecclus. xxvii. 1 Many haue sinned for a smal matter [marg. thing indifferent]. 1704Hearne Duct. Hist. (1714) I. 18 As the differences we speak of are not essential in points of Faith, the Apostles and Fathers..might fairly enough neglect these indifferent Disputes. 1788Priestley Lect. Hist. iii. xiv. 118 The real time of Christ's birth can no more affect the proper use of this system than that of any other indifferent event. 1876Geo. Eliot Dan. Der. vii, What she herself held in tenderness and reverence had constantly seemed indifferent to Gwendolen. 1885Jrnl. Sc. July 408 It is perfectly indifferent to which race the father or the mother belongs.
c. spec. Of an observance or ceremony: That may equally well be done or not done, observed or neglected, etc.; non-essential.
1563Grindal Rem. (Parker Soc.) 94 In that meal it shall be indifferent to eat flesh or fish. 1576Abp. Sandys Serm. (Parker Soc.) 187 Neither would they so uncharitably have judged their brethren in things indifferent. 1689Locke Toleration i. Wks. 1727 II. 244 Things in their own Nature indifferent cannot, by any human Authority, be made any Part of the Worship of God. 1705Stanhope Paraphr. II. 127 By Indifferent are only meant, such as might be either..done thus or otherwise. 1731Wesley Lett. xiv. Wks. XII, This rule holds of things indifferent in themselves.
III. 11. Comb., as indifferent-looking (senses 2, 7), indifferent-minded (sense 1) adjs.
1622Relat. Eng. Plantat. Plymouth in Arber Story Pilgr. Fathers (1897) 503 Every indifferent-minded man should be able to say, with father Abraham. ‘Take thou, the right⁓hand; and I will take the left!’ 1838Dickens Nich. Nick. xviii, If she was twice as indifferent-looking, I should be so much the more her friend. 1894H. Nisbet Bush Girl's Rom. 70 She was struggling to be calm and indifferent⁓looking, with a great horror chilling her young heart.
B. n.
†1. One who is impartial or disinterested. Obs.
c1570Pride & Lowl. (1841) 17 For of the hyndes or of the paysauntie I feare I should not have indifferents. 1602Archpriest. Controv. (Camden) II. 6 He would have some indifferent joined with them.
2. One who is neutral or unconcerned, esp. in religion or politics; a neutral; an apathetic person.
¶ Hence, as a quasi-proper name, John Indifferent.
1556J. Heywood Spider & F. lxiii. Dd vij b, These indiffrentes (or newters) that part most take That strongest is, or strongest like to be. 1589R. Harvey Pl. Perc. 5 If I vse indifferency, call me not Iohn Indifferent. 1624Strafford Lett. & Disp. (1739) I. 23, I was best pleased to hear of that Commodity, being for all the rest John Indifferent. 1633G. Herbert Temple, Method v, Should Gods eare To such indifferents chained be, Who do not their own motions heare? 1703Secr. Policy Jansenists 119 Why then did not the pretended Indifferents side with the Clergy, the King, the Pope, the whole Church to defend the Faith? 1742Lond. Mag. 614 Indifferents and Absentees are equally abhorrent to our Constitution. 1852Thackeray Esmond iii. x, The indifferents might be counted on to cry King George or King James, according as either should prevail. 1894Westm. Gaz. 20 Nov. 1/2 It is the indifferents, the abstainers, the waverers, and the wobblers who decide elections.
3. pl. Things indifferent (see A. 10); non-essentials. rare.
1626Sclater Exp. 2 Thess. (1629) 256 Vaine ianglings about indifferents. 1647Ward Simp. Cobler (1843) 5 To tolerate more than indifferents, is not to deal indifferently with God. 1876F. H. Bradley Eth. Stud. Note to Ess. v. 191 Now, where there are no indifferents and no choice between them, rights are never wider than duties.
†C. adv. = indifferently adv. 5. Obs.
(Very common c 1600–1730.)
1583Hollyband Campo di Fior 117 Me thinkes I under⁓stand indifferent well. 1601Holland Pliny II. 497 Indifferent good workemen, but nothing comparable to the other before named. 1602Shakes. Ham. iii. i. 123, I am my selfe indifferent honest. 1620Markham Farew. Husb. ii. xv. (1668) 68 Lay upon the Harrows some indifferent heavy piece of wood. 1707J. Chamberlayne St. Gt. Brit. i. i. iii. 21 The Air is cold, the Soil indifferent fruitful. 1748F. Smith Voy. Disc. I. 20 An indifferent high Land to N...but to the S. it falleth away very low. 1824Scott St. Ronan's iii, He..was supposed to make an indifferent good thing of it. 1826― Woodst. v, You have seen me act my part indifferent well.
▪ II. † inˈdifferent, a.2 Obs. rare.
[app. f. in-2, but perh. erroneous: cf. indifference2.]
Different.
1513Douglas æneis x. vii. 179 Thayr agis was nocht far indyfferent [L. nec multum discrepat ætas]. 1549Compl. Scot. xiii. 107 There naturis and conditions ar as indefferent as is the nature of scheip and voluis. 1644Digby Nat. Bodies (1645) 362 This [Septum lucidum] is an indifferent body from all the rest that are in the braine. |