Dictionary.com
definitions
  • synonyms

otiose

[oh-shee-ohs, oh-tee-]
See more synonyms for otiose on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. being at leisure; idle; indolent.
  2. ineffective or futile.
  3. superfluous or useless.
Show More

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

Synonyms for otiose

See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.com
1. lazy, slothful. 2. idle, vain, profitless. 3. redundant, worthless, pointless.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for otiosity

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

otiose

adjective
  1. serving no useful purposeotiose language
  2. rare indolent; lazy
Show More
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.).

Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper