indifferent

Synonyms

In*dif"fer*ent, a. Etym: [F. indifférent, L. indifferens. See In- not, and Different.] 1. Not mal Dangers are to me indifferent. Shak. Everything in the world is indifferent but sin. Jer. Taylor. His slightest and most indifferent acts . . . were odious in the clergyman's sight. Hawthorne. 2. Neither particularly good, not very bad; of a middle state or quality; passable; mediocre. The staterooms are in indifferent order. Sir W. Scott. 3. Not inclined to one side, party, or choice more than to another; neutral; impartial. Indifferent in his choice to sleep or die. Addison. 4. Feeling no interest, anxiety, or care, respecting anything; unconcerned; inattentive; apathetic; heedless; as, to be indifferent to the welfare of one's family. It was a law of Solon, that any person who, in the civil commotions of the republic, remained neuter, or an indifferent spectator of the contending parties, should be condemned to perpetual banishment. Addison. 5. (Law) Defn: Free from bias or prejudice; impartial; unbiased; disinterested. In choice of committees for ripening business for the counsel, it is better indifferent persons than to make an indifferency by putting in those that are strong on both sides. Bacon. Indifferent tissue (Anat.), the primitive, embryonic, undifferentiated tissue, before conversion into connective, muscular, nervous, or other definite tissue. In*dif"fer*ent, adv. Defn: To a moderate degree; passably; tolerably. [Obs.] "News indifferent good." Shak.