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The OED spells it as lackadaisical and defines it as Resembling one who is given to crying 'Lackaday!'; full of vapid feeling or sentiment; affectedly languishing. Said of persons, their behaviour, manners, and utterances. The first recorded use is in 1768. It is derived from lackadaisy (first recorded in 1748), which in turn comes from lack-a-day, a version of alack the day! or alack-a-day!, originally used to mean ‘Shame or reproach to the day! Woe worth the day!’ but in later usage an expression of surprise (same source). Variant spellings and pronunciations in South Africa or elsewhere don't surprise me, given the word's chequered history. (责任编辑：) |