futile etymology

Etymology

The word "futile" derives from the Latin word "futilis," which means "leaking" or "useless." The figurative meaning of "futile" as "of no use or effect" developed over time.

Meaning

Futile means:

• Useless or ineffective
• Trivial or unimportant
• Done in vain or to no avail

Synonyms include "fruitless," "ineffectual," "pointless," and "trivial."

Origin

The Latin word "futilis" is believed to be related to the following:

• Indo-European root "bheu-": To blow or swell, which may refer to the leaking or inflation of something.
• Latin verb "fundere": To pour out or spill, which could describe the leakage of water or other liquids.
• Latin noun "fundus": A bottom or foundation, which might be connected to the idea of something being unstable or ineffective.

Usage Examples

• "It was futile to try to reason with her."
• "Their efforts to save the company proved futile."
• "The decision was based on futile rumors."
• "The debate was a futile attempt to find common ground."
• "Don't waste your time on futile endeavors."

futile relate terms

• futility

  Etymology From Late Latin futilitas worthlessness uselessness from Latin futilis

• futile

  Etymology The word futile derives from the Latin word futilis which means leaking

• alchemy

  Etymology Alchemy comes from the Medieval Latin word alchemia which is derived from th

• chyle

  Etymology New Latin from Greek khýlos juice from kheín to pour Meaning A mi

• chyme

  Etymology The word chyme is derived from the Greek word chymos meaning juice or

• confound

  Etymology From Middle English confounden past participle of confounden from Old Frenc

• confuse

  Etymology refers to the origin and development of words It traces the historical changes

• diffuse

  Etymology French from Latin diffusus past participle of diffundere to pour out sprea

• diffusion

  Etymology From Middle French diffusion from Latin diffusio a spreading out from t

• effuse

  Etymology Middle French effuser from Latin effundere meaning to pour out Ex

• effusion

  Etymology The word effusion comes from the Latin word effusio which means a pouring

• effusive

  Etymology of Effusive The word effusive is derived from the Latin word effusio me

• fondant

  Etymology The word fondant comes from the French word fondre which means to melt

• fondue

  Etymology The word fondue is derived from the French verb fondre meaning to melt

• font

  Etymology The word font has two distinct etymological origins Latin fons meanin

• found

  Etymology is the study of the origin of words and how their meaning has changed over time

• foundry

  Etymology The word foundry derives from the Old French fonderie which is derived fro

• funnel

  Etymology of Funnel The word funnel has a long and complex history with origins in the

• fuse

  Etymology French fusel fuseau fusée Latin fusus spindle Proto Indo European p

• fusible

  Etymology of Fusible The word fusible comes from the Latin word fusilis which mean

• fusion

  Etymology The word fusion derives from the Latin word fusio which means a pouring

• futile

  Etymology The word futile derives from the Latin word futilis which means leaking

• futility

  Etymology From Late Latin futilitas worthlessness uselessness from Latin futilis

• geyser

  Etymology The word geyser comes from the Icelandic word geysir which refers to the

• gush

  Etymology The word gush is derived from the Middle English word gushen which means

• gust

  Etymology Middle English gust from Old French goust from Late Latin gustus Mean

• infuse

  Etymology Middle English infusen from Old French infuser from Latin infūsus past p

• ingot

  Etymology Ingot is derived from the Old English word ingot which itself comes from th

• perfuse

  Etymology From French perfuser from Latin perfundere to pour through from per

• perfusion

  Etymology Latin perfundo perfusum perfundere Meaning to pour over or to sprinkle

• profuse

  Etymology Middle English profus from Latin profusus past participle of profundere

• refuse

  Etymology Old French refus refuser Latin refutare to refute reject oppose Proto

• refuse

  Etymology Old French refus refuser Latin refutare to refute reject oppose Proto

• suffuse

  Etymology Latin suffus spread over ere to spread Proto Indo European r

• suffusion

  Etymology Latin suffusio a pouring underneath Meaning A gradual spread or diffu

• transfuse

  Etymology Latin transfusus past participle of transfundere Proto Indo European trans

• transfusion

  Etymology Transfusion derives from the Latin word transfusio which means pouring ac

• vain

  Etymology The word vain is derived from the Middle English vain which in turn comes

• otiose

  Etymology otiose adjective From Latin otiosus idle at leisure from otium

• vanity

  Etymology From Middle English vanite from Old French vanité from Latin vanitas emp

• sciamachy

  Etymology of Sciamachy The word sciamachy is derived from two Greek words Skia σ

• bevy

  Etymology The word bevy has origins in both Old Norse and French Old Norse beiði

• prevent

  Etymology Prevent comes from the Middle French prévenir from the Latin praevenire a

• coupon

  Etymology French coupon Latin cooperio meaning to cut Meaning A certificate o

• peanut

  Etymology of Peanut The word peanut has two distinct etymologies English 16th ce

• lotus

  Etymology The word lotus is derived from the Greek word lotos which may have origi

• conception

  Etymology The word conception derives from the Latin conceptio which means taking t