a. and sb. [f. L. Laodicē-a (a. Gr. Λαοδίκεια) a city in Asia Minor † -AN.]
A. adj. a. Of or pertaining to Laodicea. b. Having the fault for which the Church of Laodicea is reproached in Rev. iii. 15, 16; hence, ‘lukewarm, neither cold nor hot,’ indifferent in religion, politics, etc.
1633. Earl Manch., Al Mondo (1636), 127. Worse … is profane Newtralitie, or Laodicean coldnesse.
1642. Rogers, Naaman, 24. Lazy, Laodicean temper of a fulsome, carelesse, surfeted spirit.
1877. L. Tollemache, in Fortn. Rev., Dec., 857. Laodicean liberals sometimes boast that [etc.].
1888. Mrs. H. Ward, R. Elsmere, 165. You will loathe all this Laodicean cant of tolerance as I do.
1889. Times, 12 Sept., 8/1. A force of which Englishmen in these somewhat Laodicean days may easily fail to take proper account.
B. sb. a. An inhabitant of Laodicea. b. One who is lukewarm or indifferent in religion, politics, etc.
1611. Bible, Rev. iii. 14. And vnto the Angel of the Church of the Laodiceans, write.
1646. P. Bulkeley, Gospel Covt., III. 239. These are … Laodiceans, who are poore, and blind and naked.
1772. Fletcher, Appeal, Wks. 1795, I. 230. Antinomian Laodiceans, and Antichristian Pharisees, are equally blameable.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., vii. II. 233. Two years earlier he would have been pronounced by numerous bigots on both sides a mere Laodicean.
1881. T. Hardy (title), A Laodicean.
Hence Laodiceanism, lukewarmness, indifference.
1774. J. Adams, Lett., Wks. 1850, II. 340. There is, in this town and county, a Laodiceanism that I have not found in any other place.
1856. Spurgeon, New Park St. Pulpit, I. 204. Let not Laodiceanism get into Southwark.
