A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1963 (DOST Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Indifferent, Indeff(e)rent, adj., n., and adv. Also: indyff-. [ME. indifferent (1387), indyff-, indeferent (1465), L. indifferens.]
1. Not marked by or exhibiting a difference or distinction; equal, alike. c1420 Wynt. iii. 908.
Till him wes bath indifferent, Culpabile in payne, or innocent a1500 Henr. Orph. 574 (B).
Thingis to fall … quhilk ar indefferent 1533 Bell. Livy I. 74/13.
Ancus had ingyne indefferent baith to were & peace Id. Livy II. 126/19.
Of the other … office[s] nane but the questouris war left indefferent to the faderis and small pepill 1562-3 Winȝet I. 133/12.
[That] ȝe wald remembir it [sc. science] to be indifferent to guid or evil c1590 Fowler II. 56/5.
Painting and grauing ar things indifferent, nather guid nor euil 1597 Reg. Privy C. V. 410.
[Consulters of witches] meritis with thame indifferent and equall punishement
b. Of neutral quality, neither good nor bad. c. Of no great consequence either way, immaterial. 1598 James VI Basil. Doron 8/10.
Hou to behaue youre self in indifferent things quhilke of thame selfis are nather richt nor urong Ib. 163/5, etc. Ib. 165/4.
Ane of the publiquest indifferent actions of a king ... is his maner of refection ... & his behauioure thairat 1596 Id. Facs. Nat. MSS. III. lxxiii.
Other purgation I aucht thaime nane speciallie in sa indifferent a maitter
2. Different, unlike. 1513 Doug. x. vii. 179.
Thayr agis was not far indyfferent 1549 Compl. 107/7.
There naturis … ar as indefferent as is the nature of scheip and voluis
3. Impartial, unprejudiced; independent. 1533 Bell. Livy I. 173/19.
Becaus this Servilius bure him indeffrent in this mater 1549 Compl. 184/21.
Forane princis that ar indefferent til Ingland and Scotland 1569-73 Bann. Memor. i.
The said Secretar, … required to be tryed be ane assyse indifferent a1578 Pitsc. II. 62/20.
Mr George … appeilled to ane indifferent judge 1600 Aberd. Council Lett. I. 92.
Submissing this … possibilitie to ȝour … indeferent iudgmentis 1612 Lett. Eccl. Affairs I. 286.
The same goodis … may be putt in indifferent keeping
b. n. An impartial person. [1570] Warrender P. I. 81.
Neutrallis and indifferentis … The indifferentis will yeld to the maist maisters
4. adv. a. Without difference; equally. c1420 Wynt. vi. 35.
And yhit mare indyfferent We ar all tyme obedyent a1500 Bk. Chess 432.
To euery hen he gois indifferent 1533 Boece vi. iii. 191 b.
Almaist til thir oure days all preistis indefferent war namyt Culdeis Ib. xii. ii. 456 b.
Sweno … halit cannys of wyne & aill indifferent
b. Moderately, fairly. 1692 Conv. Burghs IV. 621.
The houses ar pretie good and the toune indifferent populous
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"Indifferent adj.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 9 May 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/indifferent>
