useless (adj.)

1590s, from use (n.) + -less. Related: Uselessly; uselessness.

Entries linking to useless

c. 1200, "act of employing," from Anglo-French and Old French us "custom, practice, usage," from Latin usus "use, custom, practice, employment, skill, habit," from past participle stem of uti "make use of, profit by, take advantage of" (see use (v.)).

-less

word-forming element meaning "lacking, cannot be, does not," from Old English -leas, from leas "free (from), devoid (of), false, feigned," from Proto-Germanic *lausaz (cognates: Dutch -loos, German -los "-less," Old Norse lauss "loose, free, vacant, dissolute," Middle Dutch los, German los "loose, free," Gothic laus "empty, vain"), from PIE root *leu- "to loosen, divide, cut apart." Related to loose and lease.

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updated on September 27, 2012

Definitions of useless from WordNet

useless (adj.)

having no beneficial use or incapable of functioning usefully;

a kitchen full of useless gadgets

she is useless in an emergency

From wordnet.princeton.edu, not affiliated with etymonline.

Dictionary entries near useless

usage

usb

use

used

useful

useless

user

username

usher

USSR

Ustashi