indifference 
being indifferent, as between persons or things ; 
absence of prepossession or bias ; impartiality. 
He is through such pryde farre fro such indifference & 
equitle as ought and must be in the judges which he 
sayth I assigne. Sir T. More, Works, p. 1008. 
After praise and scorn, 
As one who feels the immeasurable world, 
Attain the wise indifference of the wise. 
Tennyson, A Dedication. 
2. The state of being indifferent or apathetic ; 
the absence of definite preference or choice; 
want of differentiation or variation of feeling ; 
absence of special interest; apathy; insensi- 
bility. 
Many, we may easily suppose, have manifested this will- 
ingness to die from an impatience of suffering, or from 
that passive indifference which is sometimes the result 
of debility and bodily exhaustion. Sir H. Halford. 
This absolute indifference to the sight of human suffer- 
ing does not represent the full evil resulting from the 
gladiatorial games. Lecky, Europ. Morals, I. 295. 
3. The character of being indifferent or imma- 
terial ; want of essential difference with respect 
to choice, use or non-use, etc. ; immateriality; 
unimportance : as, the indifference of particular 
actions or things. 4. The condition of being 
indifferent in character or quality; a falling 
short of the standard of excellence ; compara- 
tive mediocrity: as, the indifference of one's 
penmanship or work. 
Also indifferency. 
Doctrine of' indifference, an opinion current in the 
twelfth century concerning the question of the nature of 
universals : namely, that nothing exists except individuals, 
but that, if the mind neglects the peculiar properties of 
this or that individual, and considers only those characters 
wherein one individual agrees with others, the object of 
thought, though still the individual, is in the state of be- 
ing a species or genus. Liberty of indifference, free- 
dom from necessity; the freedom of the will: so called 
because before the choice or election is made the action 
of the will is undetermined as to acting or not acting, 
a state called indi/erence of action. Point of mag- 
netic Indifference. See magnetic. = Syn. 1. Neutral- 
ity, etc. See neutrality. 2. Insensibility, Impassibility, 
etc. (see apathy) Inattention, etc. (see negligence) ; care- 
lessness, coolness, coldness, heedlessness, nonchalance. 
4. Poorness, low grade. 
indifferencedt (in-dif'e-renst), a. Having an 
appearance of indifference. Davies. 
I again turned to her, all as indifferenced over as a girl 
at the first long-expected question, who waits for two 
more. Richardson, Clarissa Harlowe, III. 186. 
indifferency (in-dif'e-ren-si), . Same as in- 
difference. 
An I had but a belly of any indifferency, I were simply 
the most active fellow in Europe. Shale., 2 Hen. IV., iv. 3. 
Thus do all things preach the indifferency of circum- 
stances. The man is all. Emerson, Compensation. 
indifferent (in-dif 'e-rent), a. and n. [< ME. in- 
different, < OF. indifferent, F. indifferent = Sp. 
indiferente = Pg. It. indifferente, < L. indiffe- 
ren(t-)s, not different, < in- priv. + differen(t-)s, 
different: see different.] I. a. 1 . Without dif- 
ference of inclination ; not preferring one per- 
son or thing to another; neutral; impartial; un- 
biased; disinterested: as, an indifferent judge, 
juror, or arbitrator. 
My lords, be as the law is, 
Indifferent, upright ; I do plead guilty. 
Beau, and Fl., Laws of Candy, v. 1. 
This general and indifferent temper of mine doth more 
nearly dispose me to this noble virtue. 
Sir T. Browne, Religio Medici, ii. 2. 
2. Peeling no interest, anxiety, or care ; un- 
concerned ; apathetic : as, a man indifferent to 
his eternal welfare. 
I'll give you your Revenge another time, when you are 
not so indifferent ; you are thinking of something else 
now, and play too negligently. 
Congreve, Way of the World, i. 1. 
In every man's career are certain points 
Whereon he dares not be indifferent. 
Browning, Bishop Blougram's Apology. 
3. Not making a difference ; having no influ- 
ence or preponderating weight ; immaterial ; 
of no account : as, it is indifferent which road 
we take. 
Dangers are to me indifferent. Shak., J. C., L 3. 
4. Eegarded without difference of feeling ; not 
exciting special interest ; uninteresting. 
Mutual love gives an importance to the most indiffer- 
ent things, and a merit to actions the most insignificant. 
Steels, Spectator, No. 263. 
I cannot say that I particularly wish him to have more 
affection for me than he has. . . . When people are long 
indifferent to us, we grow indifferent to their indifference. 
Charlotte Bronte, Shirley, xxi. 
5. Falling short of any standard of excellence ; 
of common or mediocre quality or kind ; only 
passable or tolerable ; ordinary. 
Ham. Good lads, how do ye both? 
Roe. As the indifferent children of the earth. 
Shak., Hamlet, ii. 2. 
3060 
I am myself indifferent honest ; but yet I could accuse 
me of such things that it were better my mother had not 
borne me. Shak., Hamlet, iii. 1. 
A man who has been brought up among books, and is 
able to talk of nothing else, is a very indifferent compan- 
ion. Addison, The Man of the Town. 
6. In biol., undifferentiated ; primitive ; com- 
mon ; not specialized indifferent cells or tis- 
sues. See cell. Indifferent equilibrium. See equi- 
librium, 1. = Syn. 2. Cold, cool, lukewarm, inattentive, 
heedless. 
II. . 1. One who is indifferent or apathetic. 
The mass of Christians throughout the world are even 
now no better than indifferents. 
Contemporary Reo., LIII. 180. 
2. That which is indifferent or an object of 
indifference ; that which affords no decisive 
ground of choice. 
Now, where there are no indifferents and no choice be- 
tween them, rights are never wider than duties. 
F. a. Bradley, Ethical Studies, p. 191. 
indifferentiated (in-dif-e-ren'shi-a-ted), a. [< 
in- 3 + differentiate -f -$.] Not differentiated, 
indifferentism (in-dif 'e-ren-tizm), n. [< indif- 
ferent + -ism.] 1. Systematic indifference; 
avoidance of choice or preference ; specifically, 
the principle that differences of religious belief 
are essentially unimportant ; adiaphorism. 
The zeal for liberal studies, the luxury of life, the re- 
ligious indiffrrfntixin, the bureaucratic system of state 
government, which mark the age of the Italian Renais- 
sance. J. A. Symonds, Italy and Greece, p. 171. 
A large number of voters abstained from indifferentism 
rather than from real hostility to Home Rule. 
Nineteenth Century, XX. 599. 
2. In metaph. , the doctrine of absolute identity ; 
the doctrine that to be in idea or thought and 
to exist are one and the same thing. See abso- 
lute identity, under absolute. 
indifferentist (in-dif'e-ren-tist), n. [< indif- 
ferent + -ist.'] One wtio'is indifferent or neu- 
tral in any cause ; specifically, one who adopts 
the attitude of religious indifferentism. 
indifferently (in-dif 'e-rent-li), adv. 1. In an 
indifferent manner ; without difference or dis- 
tinction ; impartially ; without concern or pref- 
erence. 
Set honour in one eye, and death i' the other, 
And I will look on both indifferently. 
Shak., J. C., i. 2. 
You are both equal and alike to me yet, and so indif- 
ferently affected by me as each of you might be the man if 
the other were away. B. Jomon, Bartholomew Fair, iv. 2. 
Grant . . . that they may truly and indifferently minis- 
ter justice. 
Book of Common Prayer, [English] Communion Service, 
[Prayer for Church Militant. 
2. Not particularly well, but still not ill ; tol- 
erably; passably. 
I hope we have reformed that indifferently with us. 
Shak., Hamleti ill 2. 
But I am come to myself indifferently well since, I thank 
God for it. Howell. 
I took my leave very indifferently pleased, but treated 
with wondrous good breeding. Gray, Letters, I. 123. 
indiffusible (in-di-fu'zi-bl), a. [< in-3 + diffusi- 
ble."] Not diffusible. 
indigence (in'di-jens),n. [< F. indigence, < L. in- 
digentia, need, want, < indigen(t-)s, needy: see 
indigent."] The condition of being indigent ; in- 
sufficiency of means of subsistence ; poverty ; 
penury. 
It is the care of a very great part of mankind to conceal 
their indigence from the rest. Johnson. 
=Syn. Penury, Want, etc. See poverty. 
indigency (in'di-jen-si), n. Same as indigence. 
Bentley. 
indigene (in'di-jen), a. and n. [< F. indigene, 
< L. indigenus, born in a country, native: see 
indigenous.'} I. a. Indigenous; native. 
They were Indigene, or people bred vpon that very 
soyle. Hakluyt's Voyages, I. 491. 
II. n. One who or that which is native or indi- 
genous ; a native or aborigine ; an autochthon. 
It might have been expected that the plants which 
would succeed in becoming naturalized in any land would 
generally have been closely allied to the indigenes ; for 
these are commonly looked at as specially created and 
adapted for their own country. 
Darwin, Origin of Species, p. 112. 
indigenous (in-dij'e-nus), a. [= F. indigene = 
Sp. indigena = Pg. indigena = It. indigeno, < LL. 
indigenus, born in a country, native, L. indigena, 
a native, < indu, within (< in, in), + gignere, ge- 
nere, bear: see -genous.'] 1. Bom or originat- 
ing in a particular place or country; produced 
naturally in a country or climate ; native ; not 
exotic. 
Negroes . . . are not indigenous or proper natives of 
America. Sir T. Browne. 
He belonged to the genuinely indigenous school of Span- 
ish poetry. Ticknor, Span. Lit., I. 336. 
indigestion 
Under the Frankish law, "the tythinR-man is Ducanus, 
the hundred-man Centenarius " ; and whatever may have 
been their indigenous names, divisions into tens and hun- 
dreds appear to have had ... an independent origin 
among Germanic races. H. Spencer, Prin. of Sociol., 612. 
2. Figuratively, innate; inherent; intrinsic. 
Joy and hope are emotions indigenous to the human 
mind. Is. Taylor. 
= Syn. Native, etc. See original, a. 
indigenously (in-dij'e-nus-li), adv. In an in- 
digenous manner ; by indigenous means. 
The art seems not to have indigenously extended beyond 
that stage in any but arid regions. Science, XI. 220. 
indigent (in'di-jent), a. [< F. indigent = Sp. 
Pg. It. indigente"< L. indigen(t-)s, needy, ppr. 
of indigere. need, be in want of, (. indu, in, + 
egere, neeu, be in want.] If. Wanting; lack- 
ing : followed by of. 
Such bodies have the tangible parts indigent 0f moisture. 
Bacon, Nat. Hist. 
How do I see that our Sex is naturally indigent of Pro- 
tection? Steele, Grief A-la-Mode, ii. 1. 
2. Lacking means of comfortable subsistence 
or support; wanting necessary resources; 
needy; poor. 
The nakedness of the indigent world may be clothed from 
the trimmings of the vain. Goldsmith, Vicar, iv. 
= Syn. Destitute, necessitous, reduced, 
indigently (in'di-jent-li), adv. In an indigent 
or destitute manner, 
indigestt (in-di-jesf), a. and . [= F. indigeste 
= Pr. indigest = Sp. Pg. It. indigesto, < L. in- 
digestus, unarranged, < in- priv. + digestus. pp. 
of digerere, arrange, digest: see digest."] I. a. 
Not digested; crude; unformed; shapeless. 
To fortify the most indigest and crude stomach. 
B. Jonson, Volpone, ii. 1. 
Me thinkes a troubled thought is thus exprest, 
To be a chaos rude and indigest. 
W. Browne, Britannia's Pastorals, i. 2. 
II. n. A crude mass; a disordered state of 
affairs. 
Be of good comfort, prince ; for you are born 
To set a form upon that indigest 
Which he hath left so shapeless and so rude. 
Shak., K. John, v. 7. 
indigested (in-di-jes'ted), a. [< in- 3 + digested."] 
1. Not digested in the stomach; not changed or 
prepared for nourishing the body; undigested; 
crude. 
All dreams, as in old Galen I have read, 
Are from repletion and complexion bred, 
From rising fumes of indigested food. 
Dryden, Cock and Fox, 1. 142. 
2. Not regularly disposed or arranged; not re- 
duced to form and method ; mentally crude : as, 
an indigested scheme. 
They cannot think any doubt resolv'd, and any doctrine 
couflnn'd, unlesse they run to that indigested heap and 
frie of Authors which they call Antiquity. 
Milton, Prelatical Episcopacy. 
In hot reformations, in what men more zealous than 
considerate call making clear work, the whole is generally 
crude, harsh, and indigested. Burke, Economical Reform. 
3. In phar., not digested; not prepared or soft- 
ened with the aid of heat, as chemical sub- 
stances. 4f. In med., not advanced to suppu- 
ration : as, an indigested wound. 
indigestedness (in-di-jes'ted-nes), n. The 
state of being indigested. 
They looked on the Common Law as a study that could 
not be brought into a scheme, nor formed into a rational 
science, by reason of the indiyestedness of it. 
Quoted in Bp. Bumet's Life of Hale. 
indigestibility (in-di-jes-ti-bil'i-ti), TO. [= F. 
indigestibilitd = Pr. indigestibilitat == It. indiges- 
tibilita ; as indigestible + -ity.~\ The state or 
quality of being indigestible. 
indigestible (in-di-jes'ti-bl), a. [< F. indiges- 
tible = Sp. indigestible = It. indigestibile, < LL. 
indigestibilis, < i-priv.+ digestibilis, digestible: 
see digestible."] 1. Not digestible physically; 
unassimilable, as food. 
Brown bread, oatmeal porridge, etc. , are taken for the 
very aperient action they induce, owing to the irritating 
nature of the indigestible husks they contain. 
Quain, Med. Diet. 
2. Not digestible mentally ; not to be assimi- 
lated by the mind; not to be stomached or 
brooked ; incomprehensible or unendurable : 
as, an indigestible statement; an indigestible af- 
front. 
Who but a boy, fond of the florid and the descriptive, 
could have poured forth such a torrent of indigestible 
similes? T. Warton, Poems attributed to Rowley, p. 79. 
indigestibleness (in-di-jes'ti-bl-nes), n. Indi- 
gestibility. 
indigestibly (in-di-jes'ti-bli), adv. Not diges- 
tibly ; so as not to be digested. 
indigestion (in-di-jes'chou), n. [= F. indiges- 
tion = Sp. indigestion = Pg. indigestSo = It. in- 
