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indifferens

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Etymology and origin of the Latin word indifferens

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation, Calque
First attested
81–43 BC, Cicero
Ultimate origin
Ancient Greek (ἀδιάφορος)

Pronunciation

  • Classical: [ɪnˈdɪf.fɛ.rẽːs][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [inˈdif.fe.rens][1]

Forms

indifferēns (genitive indifferentis, adverb indifferenter); third-declension one-termination adjective[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin in- + differēns (“differing”), the present participle of differō.[2][1][3] Cicero made it as a rendering of Ancient Greek ἀδιάφορος (adiáphoros, “indifferent”): he writes that it occurred to him to render the Greek term with this word.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Cicero introduces it in De Finibus as a philosophical term for things neither good nor bad.[2][4]

Semantic evolution

In philosophy it is what is neither good nor bad, neither to be sought nor avoided.[2][4] Quintilian uses it of what makes no difference, and in grammar of the quantity of a syllable that may be long or short.[2] Of persons it is not particular, careless: Suetonius has Caesar so indifferent about food that, when stale oil was served instead of fresh, he helped himself even more freely.[2][4] Köbler's first author is Quintilian,[3] and Church Latin glosses it indifferent.[5]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero coins it for Greek adiaphoron.[2]
  • c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian of a syllable of either quantity.[2][3]
  • c. 75–c. 150 AD – Suetonius of Caesar's indifference to food.[2][4]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. (philosophy) Neither good nor bad, indifferent.[2][4][1]
  2. Making no difference, unimportant;[2] (grammar) of a syllable, either long or short.[2]
  3. Of persons, not particular, unconcerned, careless.[2][4][1]

Word family

  • indifferentia

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ a b c d e f Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
Cite this entry

“Indifferens.” Etymologically, 20 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/indifferens. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·