matter of coursen.adj.
/ˌmat(ə)rəvˈkɔːs/, U.S. /ˈˌmædərəvˈˌkɔrs/ A. n.
Something which is to be expected as following the natural course or order of things. as a matter of course: naturally; without question, hesitation, or second thought. Also as the matter of course (rare).Now rare as a mass noun.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > customary or habitual mode of behaviour > [noun] > usual course, condition, etc. > usual, natural, or expected course
matter of course1577
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > feeling of wonder, astonishment > lack of wonder > [noun] > a natural event
matter of course1577
naturality1643
1577 A. Golding tr. J. Calvin Serm. Epist. Ephesians iii. 138 In a Court of Iustice of the world, it myght well bee a matter of course (as they terme it).
1658 Mercurius Politicus No. 411. 459 These things will be taken on, as matters of course in the Electoral diet.
1681 J. Chamberlaine tr. G. Bona Manuductio ad Coelum ii. 16 And he that understands it not to be Matter of Course, and meer Formality.
1739 in Colonial Rec. Pennsylvania (1851) V. 392 He thought it a Matter of Course.
1749 J. Cleland Mem. Woman of Pleasure I. 159 What I suffer'd, I suffer'd out of a kind of gratitude, and as matter of course after what had pass'd.
1788 A. Hamilton in Federalist Papers lxxxi. 319 There an appeal from one jury to another, is familiar both in language and practice, and is even a matter of course.
1809 B. H. Malkin tr. A. R. Le Sage Adventures Gil Blas I. i. xii. 111 Having as a matter of course sold my cloak-bag.
1878 S. Walpole Hist. Eng. II. 525 Protestants guilty of killing Roman Catholics were acquitted, as a matter of course, by Protestant juries.
1885 Pall Mall Gaz. 13 May 4/1 He takes all his wounds quite as matter of course.
a1911 D. G. Phillips Susan Lenox (1917) I. xiv. 233 To these river wanderers, veterans in the unconventional life,..the unusual is the usual, the unexpected the expected, whatever might happen was the matter of course.
1954 C. R. Attlee As it Happened xiv. 120 The King took it as a matter of course and was amused at the experience.
1983 S. Donaldson Gilden-fire 21 Cerrin and Sill he included as a matter of course.
B. adj.
Usually with hyphen. Occurring or following as a matter of course; that is to be expected. Of a person or a person's attitude: taking things as a matter of course; casual, offhand.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > feeling of wonder, astonishment > lack of wonder > [adjective]
wonderless1601
unformidable1667
unsurprising1671
unstartling1729
unmarvellous1790
matter of course1827
unsensational1854
underwhelming1970
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > feeling of wonder, astonishment > lack of wonder > [adjective] > not wondering or astonished
unstonied1508
unsurprised1591
unamazed1598
undazzled1644
unawed1693
unshocked1712
undazed1746
unwondering1788
matter of course1827
unastonished1828
underwhelmed1956
1827 S. T. Coleridge Marginalia (1984) II. 856 The smooth, easy, matter-of-course, use of the Daher.
1839 C. Dickens Nicholas Nickleby lvi. 560 Ralph's summary and matter-of-course way of holding up this example and throwing out the hint that followed it.
1854 J. R. Lowell Jrnl. Italy in Wks. (1890) I. 129 A sudden change in the scenery, like those that seem so matter-of-course in dreams.
1890 W. S. Gilbert Foggerty's Fairy & Other Tales 190 I said some matter-of-course words to the effect I should be delighted.
1910 Blackwood's Mag. Nov. 634/2 One is tempted, by some brief and tantalising matter-of-course mention, into wondering [etc.].
1994 RIP June 22/3 So-called ‘industrial’ remixes have been matter-of-course for them.
Derivatives
matter-of-ˈcourseness n.
ΚΠ
1890 Temple Bar Sept. 78 A naturalness, a matter-of-courseness that admitted of no questioning.
1993 Jrnl. Mod. Hist. 65 699 Their thinking..harbored for him a profound sense of life beyond everyday practical utility and matter-of-courseness.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2001; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.adj.1577