apathy

n.; pl. Apathies [ L. apathia, Gr. &unr_;; 'a priv. + &unr_;, fr. &unr_;, &unr_;, to suffer: cf. F. apathie. See Pathos. ] Want of feeling; privation of passion, emotion, or excitement; dispassion; -- applied either to the body or the mind. As applied to the mind, it is a calmness, indolence, or state of indifference, incapable of being ruffled or roused to active interest or exertion by pleasure, pain, or passion. “The apathy of despair.” Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

A certain apathy or sluggishness in his nature which led him . . . to leave events to take their own course. Prescott. [ 1913 Webster ]

According to the Stoics, apathy meant the extinction of the passions by the ascendency of reason. Fleming. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In the first ages of the church, the Christians adopted the term to express a contempt of earthly concerns. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Insensibility; unfeelingness; indifference; unconcern; stoicism; supineness; sluggishness. [ 1913 Webster ]