lackadaisical

lackadaisical
lackadaisical 1768 (Sterne), from interjection lackadaisy "alas, alack" (1748), an alteration of lack-a-day (1690s), from alack the day (1590s). Hence, "given to crying 'lack-a-day,' vapidly sentimental." Sense probably altered by influence of LAX (Cf. lax). Related: Lackadaisically.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • lackadaisical — lack a*dai si*cal (l[a^]k [.a]*d[=a] z[i^]*kal), a. [From {Lackadaisy}, interj.] 1. Affectedly pensive; languidly sentimental; dreamy. [1913 Webster] 2. Lacking spirit or liveliness; lethargic; listless; languid. [PJC] 3. Indolent; lazy; idle,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • lackadaisical — index careless, dilatory, indolent, languid, lax, lifeless (dull), otiose, phlegmatic …   Law dictionary

  • lackadaisical — listless, spiritless, enervated, *languid, languishing, languorous Analogous words: *indifferent, unconcerned, incurious: indolent, slothful, faineant, *lazy: inert, inactive, passive, supine, idle: *sentimental, romantic: enervated, emasculated… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • lackadaisical — [adj] careless, indifferent abstracted, apathetic, daydreaming, disinterested, dreamy, dull, energyless, enervated, faineant, halfhearted, idle, inattentive, incurious, indolent, inert, laid back, languid, languishing, languorous, lazy, lethargic …   New thesaurus

  • lackadaisical — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ lacking enthusiasm and thoroughness. DERIVATIVES lackadaisically adverb. ORIGIN from the archaic interjection lackaday, lackadaisy …   English terms dictionary

  • lackadaisical — [lak΄ə dā′zi kəl] adj. [< lackadaisy, altered (infl. by DAISY) < LACKADAY] showing lack of interest or spirit; listless; languid lackadaisically adv …   English World dictionary

  • lackadaisical — [[t]læ̱kəde͟ɪzɪk(ə)l[/t]] ADJ GRADED If you say that someone is lackadaisical, you mean that they are rather lazy and do not show much interest or enthusiasm in what they do. Dr. Jonsen seemed a little lackadaisical at times. ...the lackadaisical …   English dictionary

  • lackadaisical — lackadaisically, adv. lackadaisicalness, n. /lak euh day zi keuhl/, adj. 1. without interest, vigor, or determination; listless; lethargic: a lackadaisical attempt. 2. lazy; indolent: a lackadaisical fellow. [1760 70; lackadais(y) (var. of… …   Universalium

  • lackadaisical — adjective /ˌlækəˈdeizikəl/ Showing no interest or enthusiasm. the lackadaisical look on his face Syn: languid, listless, unenthusiastic, uninterested See Also: lackaday, lax …   Wiktionary

  • lackadaisical — lack|a|dai|si|cal [ˌlækəˈdeızıkəl] adj [Date: 1700 1800; Origin: lackaday expression of sadness (17 19 centuries), from alack the day] not showing enough interest in something or not putting enough effort into it ▪ David has a rather… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

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