indifferent

Etymology

From Old French indifferent, from Latin indifferens.

adj

1. Ambivalent; unconcerned; uninterested, apathetic.
   He was indifferent to the proposal, since it didn’t affect him, either way.
2. Indicating or reflecting a lack of concern or care.
   She responded with an indifferent shrug.
   Donald appeared not to see her at all, and answered her wise little remarks with curtly indifferent monosyllables […] 1886, Thomas Hardy, “Chapter 25”, in The Mayor of Casterbridge
   ‘Wonderful, Florence,’ I said, producing the ritual phrases: ‘I don’t know what I would do without you.’ But of course I do know. I would sink into the indifferent squalor of old age. 1990, J. M. Coetzee, Age of Iron, London: Secker & Warburg, page 33
3. Mediocre (usually used negatively in modern usage).
   The long distance and the indifferent roads made the journey impossible.
   The performance of Blue Jays has been indifferent this season.
   Suddenly Barbara remembered the party where she had first met Ruth Gardnor with her husband. The night of the dinner party. And the cello: it had been an indifferent performance. 1965, Muriel Spark, The Mandelbaum Gate, Part 2, page 252
4. Having no preference.
   I am indifferent between the two plans.
   Act V, Scene 1, p. 57, […] Let Guilt or Fear Disturb Man’s Rest: Cato knows neither of ’em, Indiff’rent in his Choice to sleep or die.
   The scientific worker aims at knowledge and is quite indifferent whether people like or dislike the knowledge he produces. 1933, H. G. Wells, The Shape of Things to Come, Book 3, Part 7
5. (dated) Unbiased, impartial, judging fairly.
   On October 7, 1640, the Massachusetts General Court attempted to solve the problem by a law stating that property seized for debts was to be assessed "at such prizes [prices] as the same shalbee valewed [shall be valued] at by 3 understanding and indifferent men, to bee chosen, the one by the creditor, another by the debtor, and the third by the marshall […]" 1955, Bernard Bailyn, The New England Merchants In The Seventeenth Century, Harvard University Press, page 48
6. Not making a difference; without significance or importance.
   Even if one appliance consumes an indifferent amount of energy when left on stand-by overnight, together they can represent 10% of the electricity demand of a household.
   We talked of indifferent things, and watched the juggler who was tossing torches in the Stadium, for twilight was falling. 1956, Mary Renault, “Chapter 28”, in The Last of the Wine, New York: Modern Library, page 374
7. (mechanics) Being in the state of neutral equilibrium.
8. (obsolete) Not different, matching.

noun

1. A person who is indifferent or apathetic.

adv

1. (obsolete) To some extent, in some degree (intermediate between very and not at all); moderately, tolerably, fairly.
   The face of the Moon appearing to me to be full of indifferent high mountains.
2. (obsolete) Without distinction or preference for some over others.