disˈinterested, ppl. a.
[f. prec. vb. + -ed1; or f. dis- 10 + interested.]
1. Without interest or concern; not interested, unconcerned. (Often regarded as a loose use.)
| a 1612 Donne βιαθανατος (1644) 99 Cases, wherein the party is dis-interested. 1684 Contempl. State of Man i. x (1699) 113 How dis-interested are they in all Worldly matters, since they fling their Wealth and Riches into the Sea. 1767 Junius Lett. iii. 18 A careless disinterested spirit is no part of his character. 1928 in C. F. S. Gamble N. Sea Air Station xiii. 222 Being disinterested with the rest of the proceedings, I opened the file and began to read the theory of Wave Transmission. 1928 Daily Express 21 June 11/4 She is listless and disinterested. 1928 Sunday Dispatch 8 July 15/2 The English public is disinterested in its theatre. 1946 ‘S. Russell’ To Bed with Grand Music vii. 95 She was disinterested rather than credulous. 1960 I. Bennett Delinquent & Neurotic Children viii. 299 Parents disinterested and failed to cooperate. 1960 Guardian 2 Mar. 7/2, I am always annoyed when anybody refers to me as a religious poet. Could a poet be disinterested in religion? 1970 Daily Tel. (Colour Suppl.) 15 May 20/4 Oxford, after three successive defeats, are almost entirely disinterested in the Boat Race. |
2. Not influenced by interest; impartial, unbiased, unprejudiced; now always, Unbiased by personal interest; free from self-seeking. (Of persons, or their dispositions, actions, etc.)
| 1659 O. Walker Oratory 115 The soul..sits now as the most disinterested Arbiter, and impartial judge of her own works, that she can be. 1705 Stanhope Paraphr. III. 435 So should the Love to our Neighbour be..Not mercenary and designing, but disinterested and hearty. 1726 Adv. Capt. R. Boyle 273 Any disinterested Person would make the same Judgement; your Passion has blinded yours. 1800 E. Hervey Mourtray Fam. II. 82, I fairly own I was not disinterested in wishing you here. 1865 Livingstone Zambesi xxii. 446 His disinterested kindness to us..can never be forgotten. |