Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • In an indifferent, manner; without difference or distinction; impartially; without concern or preference.
  • Not particularly well, but still not ill; tolerably; passably.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adverb In an indifferent manner; without distinction or preference; impartially; without concern, wish, affection, or aversion; tolerably; passably.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adverb In an indifferent manner.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adverb with indifference; in an indifferent manner

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

indifferent +‎ -ly

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Examples

  • II. ii.19 (340,5) he wav'd indifferently] That is, _he would wave indifferently_.

    Notes to Shakespeare, Volume III: The Tragedies Samuel Johnson 1746

  • I have met with, and treated, as my book shows, fifty-seven cases of this kind of vision, which I term indifferently

    Green Tea 2003

  • I have met with, and treated, as my book shows, fifty-seven cases of this kind of vision, which I term indifferently "sublimated,"

    Green Tea; Mr. Justice Harbottle Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu 1843

  • He uttered the word indifferently, and as though his mind were on something else.

    Les Miserables 2008

  • Children usually prefer the game called indifferently Togantog and Saddikiya.

    First footsteps in East Africa 2003

  • Some writers have considered that Mechtilde von Hackeborn and Mechtilde von Wippra were two distinct persons, but, as the Barons of Hackeborn were also Lords of Wippra, it was customary for members of that family to take their name indifferently from either, or both of these estates.

    The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 10: Mass Music-Newman 1840-1916 1913

  • As if it were so much water -- in short, indifferently -- P. Sybarite tossed it off.

    The Day of Days An Extravaganza Louis Joseph Vance 1906

  • The local washerwoman replied that it was perhaps a very good plan of Miss or Mrs. Fawley's (as they called her indifferently) to have him with her -- "to kip ee company in your loneliness, fetch water, shet the winder-shet-ters o nights, and help in the bit o 'baking."

    Jude the Obscure 1896

  • The local washerwoman replied that it was perhaps a very good plan of Miss or Mrs. Fawley's (as they called her indifferently) to have him with her -- "to kip 'ee company in your loneliness, fetch water, shet the winder-shet-ters o' nights, and help in the bit o 'baking."

    Jude the Obscure 1894

  • Indeed one of the best criticks of our age [1] suggests to me, that 'the word indifferently being used in the sense of without concern' and being also very unpoetical, renders it improbable that they should have been his composition.

    Life Of Johnson Boswell, James, 1740-1795 1887

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