Where does “futile” come from?

futile (Latin) comes from Latin futilis, from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰew- — to pour.

futile (Latin): in vain; nominative neuter singular of fūtilis;...

Definitions

  1. in vain; nominative neuter singular of fūtilis;...

Ancestry of “futile”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinfutilisthat easily pours out; that can not contain,...
2Proto-Indo-Europeanǵʰew-to pour
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰew- →Every word from Latin futilis →