&c. 646. applicable, available, ready, handy, at hand, tangible;
commodious, adaptable; of all work. Adv. usefully &c. adj.; pro bono
publico[Lat].
#645. Inutility.—N. inutility; uselessness &c. adj.;
inefficacy[obs3], futility; ineptitude, inaptitude;
unsubservience[obs3]; inadequacy &c. (insufficiency) 640;
inefficiency.&c. (incompetence) 158; unskillfulness &c. 699;
disservice; unfruitfulness &c.(unproductiveness). 169; labor in vain,
labor lost, labor of Sisyphus; lost trouble, lost labor; work of
Penelope; sleeveless errand, wild goose chase, mere farce. tautology
&c. (repetition) 104; supererogation &c. (redundancy) 641. vanitas
vanitatum[Lat], vanity, inanity, worthlessness, nugacity[obs3];
triviality &c. (unimportance) 643. caput mortuum[Lat][obs3], waste
paper, dead letter; blunt tool. litter, rubbish, junk, lumber, odds and
ends, cast-off clothes; button top; shoddy; rags, orts[obs3], trash,
refuse, sweepings, scourings, offscourings[obs3], waste, rubble,
debris, detritus; stubble, leavings; broken meat; dregs &c. (dirt) 653;
weeds, tares; rubbish heap, dust hole; rudera[obs3], deads[obs3].
fruges consumere natus &c. (drone) 683[Lat][Horace]. V. be useless &c.
Adj.; go a begging &c. (redundant) 641; fail &c. 732. seek after
impossibilities, strive after impossibilities; use vain efforts, labor
in vain, roll the stone of Sisyphus, beat the air, lash the waves,
battre l'eau avec un baton[Fr], donner un coup d'epee dans l'eau[Fr],
fish in the air, milk the ram, drop a bucket into an empty well, sow
the sand; bay the moon; preach to the winds, speak to the winds;
whistle jigs to a milestone; kick against the pricks, se battre contre
des moulins[Fr]; lock the stable door when the steed is stolen, lock
the barn door after the horse is stolen &c. (too late) 135; hold a
farthing candle to the sun; cast pearls before swine &c. (waste) 638;
carry coals to Newcastle &c. (redundancy) 641; wash a blackamoor white
&c. (impossible) 471. render useless &c. adj.; dismantle, dismast,
dismount, disqualify, disable; unrig; cripple, lame &c. (injure) 659;
spike guns, clip the wings; put out of gear. Adj. useless, inutile,
inefficacious, futile, unavailing, bootless; inoperative &c. 158;
inadequate &c. (insufficient) 640; inservient|, unsubservient; inept,
inefficient &c. (impotent) 158; of no avail &c. (use) 644; ineffectual
&c. (failure) 732; incompetent &c. (unskillful) 699; "stale, flat and
unprofitable"; superfluous &c. (redundant) 641; dispensable; thrown
away &c. (wasted) 638; abortive &c. (immature) 674. worthless,
valueless, priceless; unsalable; not worth a straw &c. (trifling) 643
dear at any price. vain, empty, inane; gainless[obs3], profitless,
fruitless; unserviceable, unprofitable; ill-spent; unproductive &c.
169; hors de combat[Fr]; effete, past work &c. (impaired) 659; obsolete
&c. (old) 124; fit for the dust hole; good for nothing; of no earthly
use; not worth having, not worth powder and shot; leading to no end,
uncalled for; unnecessary, unneeded. Adv. uselessly &c. adj.; to little
purpose, to no purpose, to little or no purpose. Int. cui bono?[Lat];
what's the good! Phr. actum ne agas[Lat][obs3]; chercher une aiguille
dans une botte de foin[obs3][Fr]; tanto buon che val niente[It].
#646. [Specific subservience.] Expedience.—N. expedience,
expediency; desirableness, desirability &c. adj.; fitness &c.
(agreement) 23; utility &c. 644; propriety; opportunism; advantage.
high time &c. (occasion) 134. V. be expedient &c. Adj.; suit &c.
(agree) 23; befit; suit the time, befit the time, suit the season,
befit the season, suit the occasion, befit the occasion. conform &c.