indifferentlyadv.
/ɪnˈdɪfərəntli/ In an indifferent manner; with indifference.† 2. Without bias or prejudice; impartially. Obsolete.† 4. Without determination either way; neutrally.
1. † b. In a position equally convenient as to distance for all parties. Obsolete.
a. Without difference or distinction; equally, alike, indiscriminately.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > misjudgement > indiscriminateness > [adverb]
indifferentlyc1374
indistinctlyc1420
confusedly?1531
undistinctly1548
confusely?c1550
without respect?c1550
without choice1576
intermixedlya1586
unrespectively1586
pell-mell1587
promiscuously1593
mixedly1597
indiscriminate1598
promiscually1602
swoopstake1603
promiscuous1616
irrespectively1624
muddily1648
indiscriminately1652
humdrum1660
indiscriminally1665
undistinguishingly1665
indeterminatelya1676
indiscriminatively1684
indistinguishably1689
indiscretely1698
indistinctively1699
undiscerningly1707
uncritically1763
indiscriminatingly1824
undiscriminatingly1894
unfastidiously1929
c1374 G. Chaucer tr. Boethius De Consol. Philos. (Cambr.) v. pr. iii. 122 So þat he wite egaly, as who seyth indifferently, þat thinges mowen ben doon or elles nat ydoon.
c1475 (?c1400) Apol. Lollard Doctr. (1842) 30 Ilk prest of Crist was callid indifferently prest and bischop.
1549 M. Coverdale et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. II. Gal. iii. f. xii What lette shoulde there be, why God shoulde not indifferently coumpte all for his chyldren?
1600 P. Holland tr. Livy Rom. Hist. ii. xxxiii. 66 The same yeare died Menenius Agrippa, a man..beloved indifferently [L. pariter] of the Senatours and the Commons.
1709 R. Steele Tatler No. 57. ⁋2 All Mankind are indifferently liable to adverse Strokes of Fortune.
1759 E. Burke Philos. Enq. Sublime & Beautiful (ed. 2) ii. §2. 98 They frequently use the same word, to signify indifferently the modes of astonishment or admiration and those of terror.
1880 A. Geikie Elem. Lessons Physical Geogr. (new ed.) iv. 265 At first we might expect to meet with lakes indifferently on any part of the earth's surface.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > movement towards a thing, person, or position > [adverb] > accessible to all
indifferently1655
1655 T. Fuller Church-hist. Brit. v. 187 A Court is called in the Priory of Dunstable in Bedford-shire, as a favourable place, indifferently distanced.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > rightness or justice > [adverb] > impartially
indifferently1430
unpartially?1575
impartially1611
unpassionately1644
even-handed1742
dispassionately1806
even-handedly1829
objectively1867
1430–40 J. Lydgate tr. Bochas Fall of Princes (1544) v. xxx. 141 Indifferently his domes demeaning Such one is able to be cleped a kyng.
1531–2 Act 23 Hen. VIII c. 5 §5 You..shall trewly and indifferently execute the auctoritie to you geuen.
1549 Bk. Common Prayer (STC 16267) Svpper of the Lorde f. cxxviiv That they maye truely and indifferently minister iustice.
1617 R. Boyle Diary (1886) I. 165 So many mares as shalbe vallued at lxli by two men indifferently to be chose by us bothe.
1737 J. Wesley Jrnl. 27 July (1739) 45 I..was determin'd.. to behave Indifferently to all, Rich or Poor, Friends or Enemies.
1861 Ld. Brougham Brit. Constit. (ed. 2) xix. 351 Twelve men indifferently chosen, and of a station near his own.
3. With indifference or unconcern; calmly, unconcernedly; carelessly.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > indifference > [adverb]
indifferently1574
perfunctorily1581
perfunctoriously1609
unconcernedly1636
disaffectedly1646
inconcernedly1695
gaily1810
nonchalantly1836
off-handed1840
uncovetingly1862
uncaringly1868
insouciantly1880
uninterestedly1891
disinterestedly1941
1574 J. Baret Aluearie I 109 But if he shall vnderstand..that you take the matter indifferently or quietly [L. æquo animo].
a1616 W. Shakespeare Julius Caesar (1623) i. ii. 89 Set Honor in one eye, and Death i'th other, And I will looke on both indifferently . View more context for this quotation
1663 S. Pepys Diary 10 Jan. (1971) IV. 11 I answered him [sc. Penn] so indifferently that I think he and I shall be at a distance.
1747 Gentleman's Mag. Apr. But Lovat's fate indifferently we view, True to no king, to no religion true.
1847 C. Brontë Jane Eyre II. ii. 50 ‘I have not considered the subject’, said he indifferently, looking straight before him.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > judgement or decision > absence of prejudice > [adverb] > neutrally
neutrally1571
indifferentlya1616
non-committally1861
a1616 W. Shakespeare Coriolanus (1623) ii. ii. 17 If he did not care whether he had their loue, or no, hee waued indifferently, 'twixt doing them neyther good, nor harme. View more context for this quotation
a1716 O. Blackall Wks. (1723) I. vi. 53 Whether they be our Friends, or our Enemies, or indifferently affected towards us.
5.
a. To some extent, in some degree (as intermediate between very or very much and not at all); moderately, tolerably, fairly; esp. indifferently well, pretty well. (Cf. indifferent adv.) Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > quality of being good > mediocrity > [adverb]
so-so1530
indifferently?c1550
meanly1550
colourlessly1572
indifferent1583
passable1591
passablya1610
nohow1779
so-soishly1842
so-and-so1844
monochromatically1890
serviceably1896
comme ci, comme ça1945
the world > relative properties > quantity > moderateness of quantity, amount, or degree > [adverb] > fairly
reasonably1389
reasonablyc1447
seemlyc1460
reasonable1485
gaily1532
indifferently?c1550
pretty well1576
indifferent1583
tolerably1602
tolerable1673
middling1719
geylies1754
middlingly1755
fairly1805
fairish1818
wellish1830
serviceably1896
?c1550 tr. P. Vergil Eng. Hist. (1846) I. 28 That everie man, but indifferentlie skilfull maye perceave the crafte.
1578 J. Banister Hist. Man i. f. 19 A certayne rownd and long Processe, indifferently thicke.
1600 W. Shakespeare Henry V ii. i. 53 I haue an humour..to knock you indifferently well.
1790 Coll. Voy. round World IV. i. 1227 The churches are not magnificent without; but within are decent, and indifferently ornamented.
1855 W. H. Prescott Hist. Reign Philip II of Spain I. i. ii. 30 French he could speak indifferently well.
1858 T. Carlyle Hist. Friedrich II of Prussia I. v. i. 530 For reasons indifferently good.
b. Not very well; poorly, badly (usually preceded by very or but).
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > inferiority or baseness > [adverb]
poorlyc1230
badlyc1400
meanly1550
inferiorly1605
indifferently1676
queerly1699
awfully1815
shickery1851
shoddily1899
terribly1906
1676 tr. G. Guillet de Saint-Georges Acct. Voy. Athens 110 The Wine they provided was indifferently good, but their water was excellent.
1700 S. L. tr. C. Frick Relation Voy. in tr. C. Frick & C. Schweitzer Relation Two Voy. E.-Indies 159 He thought I understood my business but very indifferently, since I kept him so long under my hands.
1707 G. Farquhar Beaux Stratagem i. 7 We are an inland Town, and indifferently provided with Fish.
1855 W. H. Prescott Hist. Reign Philip II of Spain I. i. vii. 220 Montmorency..now took the command, for which his rash and impetuous temper but indifferently qualified him.
1868 C. Dickens Let. 15 Jan. (2002) XII. 16 I rest very indifferently at night.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1900; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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adv.c1374