Where does “lackadaisical” come from?
Lackadaisical comes from English lackadaisy, which derives from English aldehyde, which comes from Latin -icus, which traces to Proto-Indo-European -kos.
lackadaisical (English): Showing no interest, vigor, determination, or...
Definitions
- Showing no interest, vigor, determination, or...
Ancestry of “lackadaisical”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | lackadaisy | lackadaisical; lackaday |
| 2 | English | alack | An expression of sorrow or mourning |
| 3 | Middle English | alacke | — |
| 4 | English | ah | An expression of relief, relaxation, comfort,... |
| 5 | Chinese | 阿 | — |
| 6 | English | aren’t | are not (negative auxiliary) |
| 7 | English | -n’t | — |
| 8 | English | Not | — |
| 9 | Middle English | not | not; nothing, nought; nobody, no person |
| 10 | Middle English | nought | nothing, none; not; iniquitous, wicked |
| 11 | Old English | nōwiht | — |
| 12 | Old English | ne | not; or, and not; "ne... ne..." is used to mean "... |
| 13 | Proto-West Germanic | *ne | — |
| 14 | Proto-Germanic | nē | not |
| 15 | Proto-Germanic | ainaz | one; some |