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Webster 1913 Edition


Nonchalant


Nonˊchaˊlant′

,
Adj.
[F., fr.
non
not (L.
non
) +
chaloir
to concern one’s self for, fr. L.
calere
to be warm, to be inflamed with desire, to be troubled. See
Non-
, and
Caldron
.]
Indifferent; careless; cool.

Definition 2024


nonchalant

nonchalant

English

Adjective

nonchalant (comparative more nonchalant, superlative most nonchalant)

  1. Casually calm and relaxed.
    We handled the whole frenetic situation with a nonchalant attitude.
  2. Indifferent; unconcerned; behaving as if detached.
    He is far too nonchalant about such a serious matter.

Synonyms

Translations


Danish

Etymology

From French nonchalant.

Adjective

nonchalant

  1. nonchalant, offhand

Inflection

Inflection of nonchalant
Positive Comparative Superlative
Common singular nonchalant 2
Neuter singular nonchalant 2
Plural nonchalante 2
Definite attributive1 nonchalante
1) When an adjective is applied predicatively to something definite, the corresponding "indefinite" form is used.
2) The "indefinite" superlatives may not be used attributively.

Adverb

nonchalant

  1. nonchalantly, offhandedly

Dutch

Pronunciation

Etymology

From French nonchalant.

Adjective

nonchalant (comparative nonchalanter, superlative nonchalantst)

  1. careless, showing no interest or effort

Inflection

Inflection of nonchalant
uninflected nonchalant
inflected nonchalante
comparative nonchalanter
positive comparative superlative
predicative/adverbial nonchalant nonchalanter het nonchalantst
het nonchalantste
indefinite m./f. sing. nonchalante nonchalantere nonchalantste
n. sing. nonchalant nonchalanter nonchalantste
plural nonchalante nonchalantere nonchalantste
definite nonchalante nonchalantere nonchalantste
partitive nonchalants nonchalanters

Related terms


French

Etymology

Present participle of Old French nonchaloir (to have no importance), from Latin non (not) + calēre (to be warm).

Adjective

nonchalant m (feminine singular nonchalante, masculine plural nonchalants, feminine plural nonchalantes)

  1. Marked by a lack of vivacity, vigour, liveliness; slow-moving; indolent.
  2. Cool, relaxed

Usage notes

  • Although French nonchalant is usually appropriate where the English one is used, its meaning is different.

German

Etymology

From Borrowing from French nonchalant, from Old French nonchaloir, from Latin non (not) + calēre (to be warm).

Adjective

nonchalant (comparative nonchalanter, superlative am nonchalantesten)

  1. nonchalant

Declension