Hypertext Webster Gateway: "fruitless"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Fruitless \Fruit"less\, a.
1. Lacking, or not bearing, fruit; barren; destitute of
offspring; as, a fruitless tree or shrub; a fruitless
marriage. --Shak.
2. Productive of no advantage or good effect; vain; idle;
useless; unprofitable; as, a fruitless attempt; a
fruitless controversy.
They in mutual accusation spent The fruitless hours.
--Milton.
Syn: Useless; barren; unprofitable; abortive; ineffectual;
vain; idle; profitless. See {Useless}. --
{Fruit"less*ly}, adv. -- {Fruit"lness*ness}, n.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
fruitless
adj : unproductive of success; "a fruitless search"; "futile years
after her artistic peak"; "a sleeveless errand"; "a
vain attempt" [syn: {bootless}, {futile}, {sleeveless},
{vain}]
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