FUTILE


Meaning of FUTILE in English

ˈfyüd. ə l, -üt ə l, also -üˌtīl sometimes -ü(ˌ)til adjective

Etymology: Middle French or Latin; Middle French futile, from Latin futtilis, futilis that easily pours out, vain, worthless, from futt-, fut- (from fundere to pour, melt) + -ilis -ile — more at found

1. : serving no useful purpose : ineffective , fruitless

opposition … had been so futile that surrender seemed the only course open — C.L.Jones

2. : occupied with trifles : frivolous

a futile vain man — John Buchan

• fu·tile·ly - ə l(l)]ē, -īll], -il(l)], ]i adverb

• fu·tile·ness - ə lnə̇s, -īln-, -iln- noun -es

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.