a. [f. Gr. ἀδιάφορ-ος indifferent + -OUS.]
1. Indifferent, immaterial, non-essential; neutral.
1635. F. White, Sabbath, 27. Divine Lawes … command or prohibite actions, which before the position of the outward Law, are adiaphorous.
1647. Jer. Taylor, Lib. Prophes., Ep. Ded. 7. Matters adiaphorous, as meats and drinks and holy dayes. Ibid., v. 93. We are taught to have no obligation in them but to be adiaphorous.
1657. Tomlinson, Renou’s Disp., 220. Wine therefore is adiaphorous and indifferent, good or evil, as its use is good or evil.
1748. Hartley, Observ. on Man, I. ii. § 1. 116. The Sensations [the tangible Qualities of Bodies] are for the most part, adiaphorous ones.
† 2. Chem. Neutral in chemical properties; neither alkaline nor acid. Obs.
1680. Boyle, Scept. Chymist, 88. Our Adiaphorous spirit may be obtain’d by distilling the Liquor that is afforded by Woods and divers other bodies.
3. Med. Incapable of doing either harm or good.
Webster cites Dunglison.
