[a. Fr. apathie, ad. L. apathīa, a. Gr. ἀπάθεια, n. of state f. ἀπαθής without feeling, f. ἀ priv. + παθε- (πάθος) suffering, passion.]
1. Freedom from, or insensibility to, suffering; hence, freedom from, or insensibility to, passion or feeling; passionless existence.
1603. Holland, Plutarch’s Mor., 74. They … do terme those joies, those promptitudes of the will … by the name of Eupathies, i.[e.] good affections and not of Apathies, that is to say, Impassibilities.
1660. Stanley, Hist. Philos. (1701), 469/2. He, from his Apathy and the Tranquillity of his life, had the attribute of fortunate bestow’d on him.
1665. Boyle, Occas. Refl., III. x. (1675), 214. Because the Passions are (sometimes) Mutinous, to wish an Apathy.
1732. Pope, Ess. Man, II. 91. In lazy Apathy let Stoic’s boast Their virtue fix’d.
1845. Lewes, Hist. Philos., II. 163. Apathy, indeed, was considered by the Stoics as the highest condition of Humanity; whereas, in truth, it is the lowest.
2. Indolence of mind, indifference to what is calculated to move the feelings, or to excite interest or action.
a. 1733. North, Lives, II. 158. He wanted a good general apathy … [i.e.] 1. as to himself, equanimity; 2. as to all others, indifference.
a. 1764. R. Lloyd, Poetry Prof., Wks. 1774, I. 35. Forsake their apathy a while.
1820. Lamb, Imperf. Symp., Ess. (1876), III. 220. I am … a bundle of prejudices … the veriest thrall to sympathies, apathies, antipathies.
1855. Prescott, Philip II., I. II. vi. 202. A certain apathy or sluggishness in his nature which led him … to leave events to take their own course.
3. transf. (of the markets, etc.)
1881. Daily News, 17 Jan., 3/3. The piece market shows great apathy.
