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Webster 1913 Edition


Futile

Fu′tile

(?; 277)
,
Adj.
[L.
futilis
that easily pours out, that easily lets loose, vain, worthless, from the root of
fundere
to pour out: cf. F.
futile
. See
Fuse
,
Verb.
T.
]
1.
Talkative; loquacious; tattling.
[Obs.]
Talkers and
futile
persons.
Bacon.
2.
Of no importance; having no useful purpose; useless; vain; worthless; pointless.
“Futile theories.”
I. Taylor.
His reasoning . . . was singularly
futile
.
Macaulay.

Webster 1828 Edition


Futile

FU'TILE

,
Adj.
[L. futilis, from futio, to pour out; effutio, to prate or babble; Heb. to utter rashly or foolishly.]
1.
Talkative; loquacious; tattling.
2.
Trifling; of no weight or importance; answering no valuable purpose; worthless.
3.
Of no effect.