nonchalant

Where does the word "nonchalant" come from? It comes from Latin calere, passing through Old French and French before entering English (1730s).

Nonchalant’s story begins in Latin: calere meant “to be warm.” To be warm, combined with non- (not). By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as nonchaloir. To have no warmth of feeling, to be indifferent, from non- and chaloir (to care, from calere). From there it passed into French as nonchalant by 1600s. Present participle of nonchaloir, for someone coolly unconcerned. It reached English by 1730s as nonchalant. From Old French 'nonchaloir', not to care, from Latin 'calere', to be warm, i.e. to be concerned. Today, nonchalant means calm, casual, and giving an impression of indifference.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient calere "to be warm", to be warm, combined with non- (not).
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval nonchaloir "to be indifferent", to have no warmth of feeling, to be indifferent, from non- and chaloir (to care, from calere).
3. Stage 3 · French · 1600s nonchalant "coolly unconcerned", present participle of nonchaloir, for someone coolly unconcerned.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1730s nonchalant "calm and casually unconcerned", from Old French 'nonchaloir', not to care, from Latin 'calere', to be warm, i.e. to be concerned.