He . . . is far from such indifference and equity as ought and must
be in judges which he saith I assign.
Sir T. More.
4. Absence of anxiety or interest in respect to what is presented to
the mind; unconcernedness; as, entire indifference to all that occurs.
Indifference can not but be criminal, when it is conversant about
objects which are so far from being of an indifferent nature, that
they are highest importance.
Addison.
Syn. -- Carelessness; negligence; unconcern; apathy; insensibility;
coldness; lukewarmness.
In*dif"fer*en*cy (?), n. Absence of interest in, or influence from,
anything; unconcernedness; equilibrium; indifferentism; indifference.
Gladstone.
To give ourselves to a detestable indifferency or neutrality in
this cause.
Fuller.
Moral liberty . . . does not, after all, consist in a power of
indifferency, or in a power of choosing without regard to motives.
Hazlitt.
In*dif"fer*ent (?), a. [F. indifférent, L. indifferens. See In- not,
and Different.]
1. Not making a difference; having no influence or preponderating
weight; involving no preference, concern, or attention; of no account;
without significance or importance.
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) Free from bias or prejudice; impartial; unbiased;
disinterested.
In choice of committees for ripening business for the counsel, it
is better to choose 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. To a moderate degree; passably; tolerably. [Obs.]
"News indifferent good." Shak.