Dictionary.com
definitions

otiose

[ oh-shee-ohs, oh-tee- ]
/ ˈoʊ ʃiˌoʊs, ˈoʊ ti- /
|
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR otiose ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

being at leisure; idle; indolent.
ineffective or futile.
superfluous or useless.

RELATED WORDS

sloth, lethargy, negligence, apathy, weariness, inertia, inactivity, stagnation, passivity, inertness, slackness, dormancy, stolidity, tardiness, heaviness, idleness, dullness, remissness, listlessness, slothfulness

Nearby words

  1. otho i,
  2. othoniel,
  3. otic,
  4. otic capsule,
  5. otic ganglion,
  6. otiosity,
  7. otis,
  8. otis, elisha graves,
  9. otis, harrison gray,
  10. otis, james

Origin of otiose

1785–95; < Latin ōtiōsus at leisure, equivalent to ōti(um) leisure + -ōsus -ose1
Related formso·ti·ose·ly, adverbo·ti·os·i·ty [oh-shee-os-i-tee, oh-tee-] /ˌoʊ ʃiˈɒs ɪ ti, ˌoʊ ti-/, o·ti·ose·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
British Dictionary definitions for otiosity

otiose

/ (ˈəʊtɪˌəʊs, -ˌəʊz) /

adjective

serving no useful purposeotiose language
rare indolent; lazy
Derived Formsotiosity (ˌəʊtɪˈɒsɪtɪ) or otioseness, noun

Word Origin for otiose

C18: from Latin ōtiōsus leisured, from ōtium leisure
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for otiosity

otiose

adj.

1794, "unfruitful, futile," from Latin otiosus "having leisure or ease,unoccupied, idle, not busy" (source of French oiseux, Spanish ocioso, Italian otioso), from otium "leisure, free time, freedom from business," of unknown origin. Meaning "at leisure, idle" is recorded from 1850. Cf. Latin phrase otium cum dignitate "leisure with dignity." Earlier adjective in English was otious- "at ease" (1610s), and Middle English had noun otiosity (late 15c.).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper