inutilis Latin · revision 31066

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=itc-pro *oite/o-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ɪˈnuː.tɪ.lɪs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [iˈnuː.ti.lis]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''inūtilis''' (neuter inūtile, superlative inūtilissimus, adverb inūtiliter); third-declension two-termination adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed [[af|la|in-|ūtilis|t1=not|t2=useful]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(de Vaan 2008) ⟨Ūtilis⟩ is from [[m|la|ūtor|t=to use]], which de Vaan traces to [[itc-pro|*oite/o-|t=to use]], with [[osc|úíttiuf|t=use]]; following Tichy he finds attractive a link with [[grc|οἴσω|tr=oísō|t=I will fetch]], from [[ine-pro|*h₃eyt-|t=to take along]], with a shift from fetching for oneself to using.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan gives Plautus as its first author.^(de Vaan 2008) In the ''Asinaria'' a contract lets a woman sell any picture she finds useless (''inūtilis'').^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is unfit for use or action, disabled, as Virgil's Anchises, who lingers on useless through the years, and serving no good purpose, useless, of things and of persons, as Plautus' worthless cook.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) In law it is void, of wills and contracts (Gaius).^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) It is also inexpedient or disadvantageous, in moral philosophy the opposite of the useful (Lucilius), harmful to oneself or others, as Cicero's citizen useless to himself and ruinous to his country, and of things harmful, as Celsus' poisonous mushrooms.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “useless, worthless, impractical, injurious”.^(Stelten 1995) In medieval Latin it also meant unfit or incapable, unskilful, and ill-intentioned or dangerous.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of useless pictures and a worthless cook.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 180–102 BC – Lucilius in moral philosophy.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of harmful citizens.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 140–180 AD – Gaius of void wills.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Unfit for use, unserviceable; disabled.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # [[m|en|useless|alt=Useless]], profitless, ''(of persons)'' worthless.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # ''(law)'' [[m|en|void]], invalid.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # [[m|en|inexpedient|alt=Inexpedient]], disadvantageous; harmful, injurious.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' Incapable, unskilful; ill-intentioned, dangerous.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[inūtilitās]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[ūtilis]]

+ * [[ūtor]]

+ * [[ūsus]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}