Using the Adjective Lackadaisical

Using the Adjective Lackadaisical Using the Adjective Lackadaisical Using the Adjective Lackadaisical By Maeve Maddox One of my mothers favorite words was lackadaisical. Example: Dont vote for her to head the committee. Shes too lackadaisical to get anything done. Some people use lackadaisical as a synonym for lazy, but thats not quite what the word means. This headline indicates the difference: FCC: Lazy Or Just Lackadaisical? Lazy implies the deliberate avoidance of work in order to spare oneself effort. Lackadaisical implies lack of purpose. The lazy person has a purpose. The lackadaisical person is content to let things happen. The adjective lackadaisical derives ultimately from the word lack in the Middle English sense of loss, failure, reproach, shame. When people were overcome by the sadness, unfairness, or futility of life, they would put the back of their hands to their foreheads and exclaim Ah, lack! Ah, lack became the word alack. Then came the expression Alack the day! On a day, alack the day! †¨Love, whose month was ever May,†¨ Spied a blossom passing fair,†¨ Playing in the wanton air†¦ Shakespeare, Loves Perjuries Alack the day contracted to the interjection lackaday: Ah, lack-a-day! its a troublesome world! Lack-a-day became lack-a-daisy: The carpenter..said ‘lack-a-daisy!’ when he saw that the old theatre was pulled down. The whimsical adjective lackadaisical derives from the exclamation lackadaisy. The OED gives this definition of lackadaisical: Resembling one who is given to crying ‘Lackaday!’; full of vapid feeling or sentiment; affectedly languishing. Said of persons, their behaviour, manners, and utterances. Merriam-Webster defines lackadaisical this way: lacking life, spirit, or zest : devoid of energy or purpose These examples from the web indicate that lackadaisical is now used most often to mean lack of energy or purpose: Having a lackadaisical selling effort is nothing to be proud of Cleveland police remain too lackadaisical in handling sex crimes Lackadaisical play irks White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen Giuliani: Obama has lackadaisical attitude toward war, Gulf oil crisis Why are todays teenagers so careless and lackadaisical? Are Christian churches today lackadaisical on discipline? Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Social vs. SocietalPreposition Mistakes #1: Accused and Excited