innocuous

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Archived revision by 86.145.59.246 (talk) as of 00:21, 7 October 2019.
Jump to navigation Jump to search

English

Etymology

Lua error: The template Template:PIE root does not use the parameter(s):
2=neḱ
Please see Module:checkparams for help with this warning.

(deprecated template usage)

From Latin innocuus (harmless).

Pronunciation

  • Lua error in Module:parameters at line 159: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value RP is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /ɪˈnɒkjuəs/
  • Lua error in Module:parameters at line 159: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value US is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /ɪˈnɑkjuəs/
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Hyphenation: in‧noc‧u‧ous

Adjective

innocuous (comparative more innocuous, superlative most innocuous)

  1. Harmless; producing no ill effect.
    • 1892, Robert Louis Stevenson, A Footnote to History, ch. 9:
      The shells fell for the most part innocuous; an eyewitness saw children at play beside the flaming houses; not a soul was injured.
    • 1910, Bram Stoker, The Lair of the White Worm, ch. 11:
      Other things, too, there were, not less deadly though seemingly innocuous—dried fungi, traps intended for birds, beasts, fishes, reptiles, and insects.
    • 2011 September 2, “Wales 2-1 Montenegro”, in BBC[1]:
      As the half closed Bale and Ledley both went close with good efforts, but Bellamy picked up a yellow card for an innocuous challenge that also rules the new Liverpool man out of the trip to Wembley.
  2. Inoffensive; unprovocative; not exceptional.
    • 1893, Gilbert Parker, Mrs. Falchion, ch. 12:
      Ruth Devlin announced that the song must wait, though it appeared to be innocuous and child-like in its sentiments.
    • 1910, P. G. Wodehouse, The Intrusion of Jimmy, ch. 28:
      He sat down, and lighted a cigarette, casting about the while for an innocuous topic of conversation.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Derived terms

Translations