inutile

See also: innutile

English

Etymology

From Middle French inutile, from Middle French, from Latin inutilis. See in- (not), utile.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ɪnˈjuːtaɪl/

Adjective

inutile (comparative more inutile, superlative most inutile)

  1. (obsolete) useless; unprofitable
    • 1631, Francis [Bacon], “(please specify |century=I to X)”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. [], 3rd edition, London: [] William Rawley; [p]rinted by J[ohn] H[aviland] for William Lee [], →OCLC:
      wormwood, and the like, [] dissipate and digest any inutile or excrementitious moisture which lieth in the flesh
    • 1840, John Rogers, Anti-popery: Or, Popery Unreasonable, Unscriptural, and Novel, page 191:
      The undermediators are not required, have nothing properly to do, no peculiar duty to perform; but are an unprofitable or inutile set of beings sitting down and looking at each other through want of other occupation.

French

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Latin inūtilis (useless).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /i.ny.til/
  • (file)
  • Homophone: inutiles
  • Hyphenation: i‧nu‧tile

Adjective

inutile (plural inutiles)

  1. useless, unnecessary, pointless
    Synonyms: superfétatoire, superflu, vain
    Antonyms: utile, nécessaire, indispensable

Usage notes

Derived terms

Further reading

Italian

Etymology

From Latin inūtilis, from in- + ūtilis.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /iˈnu.ti.le/
  • (file)
  • Rhymes: -utile
  • Hyphenation: i‧nù‧ti‧le

Adjective

inutile (plural inutili)

  1. useless, unnecessary, needless
  2. ineffective
    Synonym: ineffettivo

Antonyms

Latin

Pronunciation

Adjective

inūtile

  1. nominative/accusative/vocative neuter singular of inūtilis

Middle French

Adjective

inutile m or f (plural inutiles)

  1. useless

Antonyms

Descendants

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