Forms: 4–7 lukewarme, 5 lewk(e)-warm(e, (lowk warm), 5–6 leuk(e)-warm(e, (7 luk warme, 8 luckwarm), 6– lukewarm. [f. LUKE a. + WARM a. Cf. LEW-WARM and LG. lukwarm (also slukwarm).]
A. adj.
1. Moderately warm, tepid.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XVII. xciii. (1495), 661. The broth of clete … comfortyth the teeth: yf it be luke warme hote [Bodl. E. Mus. MS. lewke hote] holde in the mouth.
c. 1400. trans. Secreta Secret., Gov. Lordsh., lxiii. 82. Þe firste be cold, þe seconde leuk-warme, þe þrydde hoot.
c. 1450. ME. Med. Bk. (Heinrich), 213. Stampe hyt wyþ vynegre lewk warm.
1546. Phaër, Bk. Childr. (1553), T ij. Lette the chylde drynke of it twise or thrise a day luke warme.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., I. ix. 36. All wallowd in his own yet luke-warme blood.
1658. A. Fox, Würtz’ Surg., II. ix. 80. Apply the Collyrium luke-warm.
1762. Wood, in Phil. Trans., LII. 416. The water … close to the flame is only luckwarm.
1840. Dickens, Old C. Shop, xix. Sickening smells from many dinners came in a heavy lukewarm breath upon the sense.
2. Of persons, their actions, attributes, etc.: Having little warmth or depth of feeling, lacking zeal, enthusiasm or ardor, indifferent.
c. 1522. More, De Quat. Noviss., Wks. 83/1. Like as god said in thapocalips vnto the churche of Loadice. Thou arte neyther hote nor cold but luke warme, I would thou were colde yt thou mighteste waxe warme.
1593. G. Harvey, Pierce’s Super., 108. Some that called him the lukewarme Doctor, and likened him to milke from the Cowe.
1623. trans. Favine’s Theat. Hon., V. i. 55. The strength of youth and Manhood is now become but luke-warme.
1691. Wood, Ath. Oxon., I. 154. Whittyngham … was but a luke-warm conformist at best.
1718. Bp. Hutchinson, Witchcraft, 86. That shewed the Zeal of their Time above our lukewarm Temper.
1771. Junius Lett., lix. 303. The lukewarm advocate avails himself of any pretence to relapse into … indifference.
1804. J. Grahame, Sabbath, 86. No lukewarm accents from my lips should flow.
1883. Froude, Short Stud., IV. I. ix. 96. The clergy were lukewarm in his interests.
So † Lukewarmed a. = prec. sense 1.
1545. Raynold, Byrth Mankynde, 71. The beryes of iuniper … dronke with luke warmed wine, wyl [etc.].
B. sb. A lukewarm person; one who is by no means enthusiastic.
1693. W. Freke, Sel. Ess., xxxi. 188. Let such Cowards and Lukewarms do what they will,—I shall always Condemn Vice and Sin.
1835. C. Brontë, in Mrs. Gaskell, Life, viii. (1858), 107. But the Opposition is divided, Red-hots, and Luke-warms.
1890. Pall Mall G., 25 June, 1/2. One enthusiast is worth a dozen ‘lukewarms.’
