different between unexcitable vs nonchalant

English

Etymology

From un- +? excitable.

Adjective

unexcitable (comparative more unexcitable, superlative most unexcitable)

1. Not excitable, not easily excited.
   • 1889, Frank R. Stockton, The Great War Syndicate, New York: Dodd, Mead & Co., p. 55,^[1]

     Ordinarily the commandant of the fort was of a calm and unexcitable temperament. During the astounding events of that day and the day before he had kept his head cool; his judgment, if not correct, was the result of sober and earnest consideration.

   • 1957, Muriel Spark, The Comforters, London: Macmillan, Chapter Seven,

     […] he remembered how terse and unexcitable the jeweller was, so different from those gem-dealers who, meeting with each other on the pavements at Hatton Garden, could not contain for two seconds their business verve, nor refrain from displaying there and then their tiny precious wares, produced out of waistcoat pockets and wrapped in tissue paper.

   Synonyms: cool-headed, even-tempered

2. Not capable of being excited.
   • 1664, Henry More, A Modest Enquiry into the Mystery of Iniquity, London: W. Morden, Book II, Chapter 7, p. 128,^[2]

     But suppose that these pretended living Stones of the Temple of God were as unexcitable to Pride or Lust as the dead Stones of the walls of a Church […]

   • 1794, Erasmus Darwin, Zoonomia, London: J. Johnson, Volume I, Section 12, 2. Of sensorial Exertion, p. 79,^[3]

     When the spirit of animation is thus exhausted by useless exertions, the organ becomes torpid or unexcitable into action, and a second fit of quiescence succeeds that of abundant activity.

   • 1835, Catharine Sedgwick, The Linwoods, New York: Harper & Brothers, Volume 2, Chapter , p. 222,^[4]

     Isabella […] had been misled, as most inexperienced observers are in similar cases, by the tranquillity of Eliot’s manner; she respected and liked him exceedingly; but she thought him unexcitable, and incapable of passion.

Translations

English

Etymology

Borrowed from French nonchalant, from Old French nonchaloir (“to be unconcerned”), from non- (“not”) + chaloir (“to have concern for”), from Latin non (“not”) + cal?re (“to be warm”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?n?n.??l.?nt/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?n?n.???l?nt/

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

• (casually calm): carefree, cool, mellow, easygoing
• (indifferent): blasé, unconcerned
• See also Thesaurus:calm

Derived terms

• nonchalantly
• nonchalantness

Related terms

• nonchalance

Translations

Danish

Etymology

From French nonchalant.

Adjective

nonchalant

1. nonchalant, offhand

Inflection

Adverb

nonchalant

1. nonchalantly, offhandedly

Further reading

• “nonchalant” in Den Danske Ordbog

Dutch

Etymology

Borrowed from French nonchalant.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?n?n.?a??l?nt/
• Hyphenation: non?cha?lant
• Rhymes: -?nt

Adjective

nonchalant (comparative nonchalanter, superlative nonchalantst)

1. careless, showing no interest or effort

Inflection

Related terms

• nonchalance

French

Etymology

Present participle of Old French nonchaloir (“to have no importance”), from non + chaloir, equivalent to Latin non (“not”) + cal?re (“to be warm”).

Adjective

nonchalant (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.

Related terms

• nonchaloir
• chaloir

Descendants

• ? Danish: nonchalant
• ? Dutch: nonchalant
• ? English: nonchalant
• ? German: nonchalant

Further reading

• “nonchalant” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

German

Etymology

Borrowed from French nonchalant, from Old French nonchaloir, from Latin non (“not”) + cal?re (“to be warm”).

Pronunciation

Adjective

nonchalant (comparative nonchalanter, superlative am nonchalantesten)

1. nonchalant

Declension

Further reading

• “nonchalant” in Duden online

Norwegian Bokmål

Alternative forms

• nonsjalant

Etymology

From French nonchalant.

Adjective

nonchalant (indefinite singular nonchalant, definite singular and plural nonchalante)

1. nonchalant

References

• “nonchalant” in The Bokmål Dictionary.

Norwegian Nynorsk

Alternative forms

• nonsjalant

Etymology

From French nonchalant.

Noun

nonchalant (indefinite singular nonchalant, definite singular and plural nonchalante)

1. nonchalant

References

• “nonchalant” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.