英和和英

語源 1

From 中期英語 bootles, botelees; equivalent to boot +‎ -less.

形容詞

bootless (not comparable)

1. Without boots.

語源 2

From 中期英語 boteles, botles, from 古期英語 bōtlēas; equivalent to boot (“profit; use; behoof”) +‎ -less. Doublet of botleas.

別の表記

• boteless

形容詞

bootless (comparative more bootless, superlative most bootless)

1. Profitless; pointless; unavailing.
   • c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iii]:

     I'll follow him no more with bootless prayers.

   • 1609, William Shakespeare, “Sonnet 29”, in Shake-speares Sonnets. […], London: By G[eorge] Eld for T[homas] T[horpe] and are to be sold by William Aspley, →OCLC:

     When, in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes, / I all alone beweep my outcast state / And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries

   • 1785, Francis Grose, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue,, page 4:

     APRIL FOOL, Any one imposed on, or sent on a bootless errand on the first of April, on which day it is the custom among the lower people, children, and servants, by dropping empty papers carefully doubled up, sending persons on absurd messages, and such like contrivances, to impose on every one they can, and then to salute them with the title of April-fool.

   • 1844, Sir John William Kaye, Peregrine Pultuney: or, Life in India, page 251:

     The lieutenant tried the handle again, but still his efforts were quite bootless. He pushed and kicked, but the door was a strong one.

同意語

• fruitless

派生語

• bootlessly
• bootlessness