disinterestedadj.
1. Without interest or concern; not interested, unconcerned. (Often regarded as a loose use.)
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > indifference > [adjective]
carelessOE
negligentc1390
recklessc1425
neutral1494
indifferent?1520
undifferentc1540
uncareful1560
unmindful1560
unaddicted1583
unmindful1585
perfunctory1602
disinteressed1603
come day, go day (God send Sunday)1616
disinteresteda1631
Laodicean1633
vacanta1639
unconcerned1645
easy1649
mawkish1679
indifferinga1694
concernless1706
unminding1714
nonchalanta1734
coolrife1768
uninterested1772
uncaring1786
tooth-picking1814
pococurante1815
pococurantish1821
insouciant1829
non-committal1829
don't-care1830
promiscuous1837
don't-carish1838
unpartial1840
noncurantist1882
noncuranta1913
casual1916
Gallionic1920
disengaged1958
a1631 J. Donne Βιαθανατος (1647) ii. iv. §1 If there be cases, wherein the party is dis-interested, and only or primarily the glory of God is respected and advanced, it [sc. suicide] may be lawfull.
a1677 J. Taylor Contempl. State Man (1684) i. x 121 How dis-interested are they of all Worldly matters, since they fling their Wealth and Riches into the Sea.
1769 ‘Junius’ Stat Nominis Umbra (1772) I. iii. 29 A careless disinterested spirit is no part of his character.
1928 in C. F. S. Gamble N. Sea Air Station xiii. 222 Being disinterested with the rest of the proceedings, I opened the file and began to read the theory of Wave Transmission.
1928 Daily Express 21 June 11/4 She is listless and disinterested.
1928 Sunday Disp. 8 July 15/2 The English public is disinterested in its theatre.
1946 ‘S. Russell’ To Bed with Grand Music vii. 95 She was disinterested rather than credulous.
1960 I. Bennett Delinquent & Neurotic Children viii. 299 Parents disinterested and failed to cooperate.
1960 Guardian 2 Mar. 7/2 I am always annoyed when anybody refers to me as a religious poet. Could a poet be disinterested in religion?
1970 Daily Tel. 15 May (Colour Suppl.) 20/4 Oxford, after three successive defeats, are almost entirely disinterested in the Boat Race.
2. Not influenced by interest; impartial, unbiased, unprejudiced; now always, Unbiased by personal interest; free from self-seeking. (Of persons, or their dispositions, actions, etc.)
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > virtue > morally elevated quality > unselfishness > [adjective] > free from personal interest
disinteressed1610
uninteressed1643
disinterested1659
uninterested1661
unselfinteressed1664
1659 O. Walker Some Instr. Art of Oratory 115 The soul..sits now as the most disinterested Arbiter, and impartial judge of her own works, that she can be.
1705 G. Stanhope Paraphr. III. 435 So should the Love to our Neighbour be..Not mercenary and designing, but disinterested and hearty.
1726 W. R. Chetwood Voy. & Adventures Capt. R. Boyle 273 Any disinterested Person would make the same Judgment; your Passion has blinded yours.
1800 E. Hervey Mourtray Family II. 82 I fairly own I was not disinterested in wishing you here.
1865 D. Livingstone & C. Livingstone Narr. Exped. Zambesi xxii. 446 His disinterested kindness to us..can never be forgotten.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1896; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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adj.a1631