indifferens Latin · revision 34051

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation, calque|attested=81–43 BC, Cicero|origins=grc ἀδιάφορος}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ɪnˈdɪf.fɛ.rẽːs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [inˈdif.fe.rens]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''indifferēns''' (genitive indifferentis, adverb indifferenter); third-declension one-termination adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|in-|differēns|t2=differing]], the present participle of [[m|la|differō]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Köbler 2010) Cicero made it as a rendering of [[grc|ἀδιάφορος|tr=adiáphoros|t=indifferent]]: he writes that it occurred to him to render the Greek term with this word.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Cicero introduces it in ''De Finibus'' as a philosophical term for things neither good nor bad.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In philosophy it is what is neither good nor bad, neither to be sought nor avoided.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Quintilian uses it of what makes no difference, and in grammar of the quantity of a syllable that may be long or short.^(OLD 2012) 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.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Köbler's first author is Quintilian,^(Köbler 2010) and Church Latin glosses it indifferent.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero coins it for Greek ''adiaphoron''.^(OLD 2012)

+ * c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian of a syllable of either quantity.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 75–c. 150 AD – Suetonius of Caesar's indifference to food.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # ''(philosophy)'' Neither good nor bad, [[m|en|indifferent]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Making no difference, unimportant;^(OLD 2012) ''(grammar)'' of a syllable, either long or short.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Of persons, not particular, unconcerned, [[m|en|careless]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[indifferentia]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[differo|alt=differō]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}