lukewarmadj.n.

Brit.

/ˌluːkˈwɔːm/,

/ˈluːkwɔːm/,

/ˌljuːkˈwɔːm/,

/ˈljuːkwɔːm/, U.S.

/ˈlukˌwɔrm/,

/ˌlukˈwɔrm/

Forms: Middle English–1600s lukewarme, Middle English lewk(e)-warm(e, ( lowk warm), Middle English–1500s leuk(e)-warm(e, (1600s luk warme, 1700s luckwarm), 1500s– lukewarm.

Etymology: < luke adj. + warm adj. Compare lew-warm adj. and Low German lukwarm (also slukwarm).

A. adj.

1. Moderately warm, tepid.

ΘΚΠ

the world > matter > properties of materials > temperature > heat > [adjective] > having or communicating much heat > warm > lukewarm

wlakc897

lukec1275

lewc1300

flakec1400

flashc1400

lukewarmc1400

tepidc1400

luke-hota1425

lew-warmc1450

lukewarmed1540

lew-warmed1588

c1400 tr. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh. lxiii. 82 Þe firste be cold, þe seconde leuk-warme, þe þrydde hoot.

c1450 Middle Eng. Med. Bk. (Heinrich) 213 Stampe hyt wyþ vynegre lewk warm.

1495 Trevisa's Bartholomeus De Proprietatibus Rerum (de Worde) xvii. xciii. sig. Ri/1 The broth therof [sc. Lappa]..comfortyth the teeth: yf it be luke warme hote [a1398 BL Add. luke hoot, a1425 Pierpont Morgan wlache hot, a1450 Bodl. lewke hote; L. teppida] holde in the mouth.

1546 T. Phaer Bk. Children (1553) T ij Lette the chylde drynke of it twise or thrise a day luke warme.

1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. ix. sig. I2 All wallowd in his own yet luke-warme blood.

1658 W. Johnson tr. F. Würtz Surgeons Guid ii. ix. 80 Apply the Collyrium luke-warm.

1763 J. Wood in Philos. Trans. 1762 (Royal Soc.) 52 416 The water..close to the flame is only luckwarm.

1841 C. Dickens Old Curiosity Shop i. xix. 197 Sickening smells from many dinners came in a heavy lukewarm breath upon the sense.

2. Of persons, their actions, attributes, etc.: Having little warmth or depth of feeling, lacking zeal, enthusiasm or ardour, indifferent.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > absence of emotion > [adjective] > lukewarm or lacking enthusiasm

coolOE

luke1340

tepid1513

lukewarmc1522

unearnest1542

spiritless1566

zeallessa1594

faint1596

unfiery1598

tepidous1607

Laodicean1633

heartless1636

unzealous1643

slight1660

unenthusiastic1805

teporous1821

coolish1850

ice-cool1891

demotivated1963

meh2007

c1522 T. More Treat. Memorare Nouissima in Wks. (1557) I. 83 Like as god said in thapocalips vnto the churche of Loadice. Thou arte neyther hote nor cold but luke warme, I would thou were colde y^t thou mighteste waxe warme.

1593 G. Harvey Pierces Supererogation 108* Some, that called him the lukewarme Doctour, and likened him to milke from the Cowe.

1623 tr. A. Favyn Theater of Honour & Knight-hood v. i. 55 The strength of youth and Manhood is now become but luke-warme.

1691 A. Wood Athenæ Oxonienses I. 154 Whittyngham..was but a luke-warm conformist at best.

1718 F. Hutchinson Hist. Ess. conc. Witchcraft iv. 65 That shewed the Zeal of their Time, above our lukewarm Temper.

1771 ‘Junius’ Stat Nominis Umbra (1772) II. lix. 262 The lukewarm advocate avails himself of any pretence to relapse into..indifference.

1804 J. Grahame Sabbath 86 No lukewarm accents from my lips should flow.

1883 J. A. Froude Short Stud. IV. i. ix. 96 The clergy were lukewarm in his interests.

B. n.

A lukewarm person; one who is by no means enthusiastic.

ΘΚΠ

the mind > emotion > absence of emotion > [noun] > lukewarmness or lack of enthusiasm > person

lukewarmlinga1640

lukewarm1693

1693 W. Freke Sel. Ess. xxxi. 188 Let such Cowards and Lukewarms do what they will, —I shall always Condemn Vice and Sin.

1835 C. Brontë Let. in E. C. Gaskell Life C. Brontë (1857) I. vii. 142 But the Opposition is divided, Red-hots, and Luke-warms.

1890 Pall Mall Gaz. 25 June 1/2 One enthusiast is worth a dozen ‘lukewarms’.

Derivatives

† lukewarmed adj. Obsolete = A. 1.

ΘΚΠ