futilely
|fu-tile-ly|
C1
/ˈfjuː.taɪl.li/
(futile)
pointless
Etymology
Etymology Information
'futile' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'futilis,' where 'futilis' meant 'leaky' or 'worthless.'
Historical Evolution
'futilis' transformed into the French word 'futile,' and eventually became the modern English word 'futile' through Middle English.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'leaky or worthless,' but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'incapable of producing any useful result.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adverb 1
in a manner that is incapable of producing any useful result; pointlessly.
He futilely attempted to fix the broken machine.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/01/17 10:37