bootless

American  

[boot-lis] / ˈbut lɪs /

adjective

1. without result, gain, or advantage; unavailing; useless.

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bootless British  

/ ˈbuːtlɪs /

adjective

1. of little or no use; vain; fruitless

   a bootless search

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Other Word Forms

• bootlessly adverb
• bootlessness noun

Etymology

Origin of bootless

before 1000; Middle English bot ( e ) les, Old English bōtlēas unpardonable. See boot ², -less

Example Sentences

“In the Court’s view, characterization of defendant’s previous and threatened future actions as dilatory, in bad faith or unduly prejudicial would be a bootless exercise. They are, in varying degrees, all three,” he said.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 11, 2022

Daniel Snyder, having turned a proud franchise into a creepy, predatory and bootless operation, does one thing with wicked effectiveness: manipulate hope.

From Washington Post • Sep. 2, 2020

Well, here we are again, standing bootless in the snow during a crisis.

From Salon • May 10, 2020

In fact, another of that band’s hits seemed more appropriate to these bootless proceedings: the one called “Why?”

From New York Times • Jan. 13, 2015

Behind her a bootless Turtle tiptoed through puddles.

From "The Westing Game" by Ellen Raskin