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futile - 4 dictionary results

fu⋅tile

[fyoot-l, fyoo-tahyl]
–adjective
1. incapable of producing any result; ineffective; useless; not successful: Attempting to force-feed the sick horse was futile.
2. trifling; frivolous; unimportant.

Origin:
1545–55; < L fūtilis, futtilis easily broken, vain, worthless, equiv. to fūt- (akin to fundere to pour, melt) + -ilis -ile


fu⋅tile⋅ly, adverb
fu⋅tile⋅ness, noun


1. See useless.
fu·tile   (fyōōt'l, fyōō'tīl')   
adj.  
  1. Having no useful result.
  2. Trifling and frivolous; idle: the futile years after her artistic peak.

[Latin fūtilis; see gheu- in Indo-European roots.]
fu'tile·ly adv., fu'tile·ness n.
Synonyms: These adjectives mean producing no result or effect: a futile effort; a barren search; bootless entreaties; fruitless labors; an unavailing attempt; a useless discussion; vain regrets.
Antonym: useful

Futile

Fu"tile\ (?; 277), a. [L. futilis that easily pours out, that easily lets loose, vain, worthless, from the root of fundere to pour out: cf. F. futile. See Fuse, v. t.]

1. Talkative; loquacious; tattling. [Obs.]

Talkers and futile persons. --Bacon.

2. Of no importance; answering no useful end; useless; vain; worthless. "Futile theories." --I. Taylor.

His reasoning . . . was singularly futile. --Macaulay.
Language Translation for : futile
Spanish: fútil, vano, inútil,
German: nutzlos,
Japanese: 無駄な

futile 
c.1555, from M.Fr. futile, from L. futilis "vain, worthless, futile," lit. "pouring out easily" (of a vessel), hence "easily emptied, leaky, unreliable," from base of fundere "pour, melt," from PIE *gheu- "to pour" (see found (2)).
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