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insipid

 - 3 dictionary results

in⋅sip⋅id

  [in-sip-id]
Use insipid in a Sentence
–adjective
1. without distinctive, interesting, or stimulating qualities; vapid: an insipid personality.
2. without sufficient taste to be pleasing, as food or drink; bland: a rather insipid soup.
Origin:
1610–20; < L insipidus, equiv. to in- in- 3 + -sipidus, comb. form of sapidus sapid

Related forms:
in⋅si⋅pid⋅i⋅ty, in⋅sip⋅id⋅ness, noun
in⋅sip⋅id⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
1, 2. flat, dull, uninteresting. 2. tasteless, bland.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To insipid
in·sip·id   (ĭn-sĭp'ĭd)   
adj.  

  1. Lacking flavor or zest; not tasty.

  2. Lacking qualities that excite, stimulate, or interest; dull.


[French insipide, from Late Latin īnsipidus : Latin in-, not; see in-1 + Latin sapidus, savory (from sapere, to taste; see sep- in Indo-European roots).]
in'si·pid'i·ty (ĭn'sĭ-pĭd'ĭ-tē), in·sip'id·ness n., in·sip'id·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

insipid 
1620, "without taste or perceptible flavor," from Fr. insipide, from L.L. inspidus "tasteless," from L. in- "not" + sapidus "tasty," from sapere "have a taste" (also "be wise"). Fig. meaning "uninteresting, dull" first recorded 1649, but it was also a secondary sense in M.L.
"In ye coach ... went Mrs. Barlow, the King's mistress and mother to ye Duke of Monmouth, a browne, beautifull, bold, but insipid creature." [John Evelyn, diary, Aug. 18, 1649]
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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