Where does “slackadaisical” come from?
slackadaisical (English) comes from English lackadaisical, from English lackadaisy, from English alack, from Middle English alacke, from English ah, from Chinese 阿, from English aren’t, from English -n’t — not.
slackadaisical (English): Slipshod and lazy; lacking diligence and effort
Definitions
- Slipshod and lazy; lacking diligence and effort
Ancestry of “slackadaisical”, step by step
slackadaisical traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English lackadaisical
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | lackadaisical | Showing no interest, vigor, determination, or... |
| 2 | English | lackadaisy | lackadaisical; lackaday |
| 3 | English | alack | An expression of sorrow or mourning |
| 4 | Middle English | alacke | — |
| 5 | English | ah | An expression of relief, relaxation, comfort,... |
| 6 | Chinese | 阿 | — |
| 7 | English | aren’t | are not (negative auxiliary) |
| 8 | English | -n’t | — |
| 9 | English | Not | — |
| 10 | Middle English | not | not; nothing, nought; nobody, no person |
| 11 | Middle English | nought | nothing, none; not; iniquitous, wicked |
| 12 | Old English | nōwiht | — |
| 13 | Old English | ne | not; or, and not; "ne... ne..." is used to mean "... |
| 14 | Proto-West Germanic | *ne | — |
| 15 | Proto-Germanic | nē | not |