Otiose

Pronunciation: /ˈoʊʃiˌoʊs/

Definitions of otiose

adjective serving no practical purpose or result; ineffective or futile

Example Sentences

A1 I don't like to do otiose tasks.

A2 The otiose meeting could have been an email.

B1 She felt frustrated by the otiose paperwork.

B2 The manager considered the new policy otiose and unnecessary.

C1 The professor found the student's argument to be otiose and lacking substance.

C2 The artist refused to create otiose art just for the sake of selling it.

Examples of otiose in a Sentence

formal The otiose task of counting the number of blades of grass in a field proved to be a waste of time.

informal I find it otiose to argue with someone who refuses to listen to reason.

slang Stop being so otiose and help me with this project.

figurative Her attempts to change his mind were otiose, as he was set in his ways.

Grammatical Forms of otiose

• past tense: otiosed
• plural: otioses
• comparative: more otiose
• superlative: most otiose
• present tense: otioses
• future tense: will be otiose
• perfect tense: has been otiose
• continuous tense: is being otiose
• singular: otiose
• positive degree: otiose
• infinitive: to be otiose
• gerund: otiosing
• participle: otiosed

Origin and Evolution of otiose

First Known Use: 1601 year

Language of Origin: Latin

Story behind the word: The word 'otiose' originated from the Latin word 'otiōsus' meaning 'at leisure, idle'.

Evolution of the word: Over time, 'otiose' has evolved to also mean ineffective, futile, or pointless, in addition to its original meaning of idle or at leisure.