Friday, June 5, 2015

Futility


WORD OF THE DAY

Futility \ FYEW-til-leh-tee \ noun
plural: futilities
 
Definition

1a:  the quality or state of being futile
1b:  uselessness
 
2:  a useless act or gesture
 
3a:  occupied with trifles
3b:  frivolous

Examples

Katie was either convinced or saw the futility of the conversation, because she dropped the subject

Maintaining classical studies in 1987 is like Cosmopolitan magazine obstinately advertising bustles
—Dennis O’Brien, New York Times OpEd, February 12, 1987

Did you know?
 
The word futility comes from French futilité or directly from Latin futilitatem (nominative futilitas) "worthlessness," from futilis (see futile). Hence, jocular futilitarian (1827).

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