This week’s theme
Words that turn into another word when beheaded

This week’s words
scop
junto
hauteur
astringent
futilitarian

This week's comments
AWADmail 671

Next week's theme
Words borrowed from Yiddish

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A.Word.A.Day

PRONUNCIATION:

(fyoo-til-i-TAR-ee-uhn)

MEANING:

adjective:
1. Devoted to futile pursuits.
2. Holding the belief that human striving is useless.

noun:
1. A person devoted to futile pursuits.
2. One who believes that human striving is useless.

ETYMOLOGY:

A blend of futile and utilitarian. Earliest documented use: 1827.

USAGE:

“‘Abandon all hope, ye who enter here.’ Dante was the First Futilitarian.”
Brad Blanton; Futilitarianism; Tikkun (Berkeley, California); Nov/Dec 2004.

“Owner Jerry Reinsdorf had promised an all-out effort to improve, but the team seems to have adopted a futilitarian attitude.”
Bob Verdi; Only Flag Over Comiskey Park Is White; Chicago Tribune; Jul 9, 1989.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY: