lackadaisical

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˌlækəˈdeɪzɪkəl/, /læksə-/^[1]

Etymology

Formed from lackadaisy,^[2][3][4] a playful alteration of the exclamation lackaday,^[2][3][5] which comes from alack the day.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

It first meant affectedly languishing or full of vapid sentiment, like someone given to crying “Lackaday!”;^[6][3] Sterne used it in 1768.^[3]

Semantic evolution

Its sense moved from sentimental languor to lack of energy or interest.^[2][4] Etymonline suggests the change was probably influenced by lax.^[3]

Timeline

• 1690s – lack-a-day.^[3]
• 1748 – lackadaisy.^[3]
• 1768 – lackadaisical.^[3][6][5]

Modern meaning

Adjective

1. Lacking spirit, energy or interest; listless.
2. Lazy, idle.

Word family

• lackadaisically
• lackadaisicalness

Related words

• lackaday
• lax
• alack

References

1. [1] Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. [1] [2] [3] The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
3. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] Harper, Douglas, Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. [1] [2] Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1999), 2nd ed., New York: Random House
5. [1] [2] Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003), 11th ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
6. [1] [2] Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press