The expression “coffee break” was first attested in 1952 in glossy magazine advertisements by the Pan-American Coffee Bureau.
INNOCUOUS
innocent, innocuous
(adjective) lacking intent or capacity to injure; “an innocent prank”
innocuous
(adjective) not injurious to physical or mental health
innocuous, unobjectionable
(adjective) not causing disapproval; “it was an innocuous remark”; “confined himself to innocuous generalities”; “unobjectionable behavior”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Adjective
innocuous (comparative more innocuous, superlative most innocuous)
Harmless; producing no ill effect.
Inoffensive; unprovocative; not exceptional.
Synonyms
• (harmless, without ill effect): innoxious, nonpoisonous, nontoxic, undamaging, unharmful, harmless
• (inoffensive): uncontroversial
Antonyms
• nocuous
• noxious
• harmful
• poisonous
• toxic
Source: Wiktionary
In*noc"u*ous, a. Etym: [L. innocuus; in- not + nocuus hurtful, fr. nocere to hurt. See Innocent.]
Definition: Harmless; producing no ill effect; innocent. A patient, innocuous, innocent man. Burton.
– In*noc"u*ous*ly, adv.
– In*noc"u*ous*ness, n. Where the salt sea innocuously breaks. Wordsworth.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition
Recent Word Finds
Word of the Day
26 June 2024
INCORPORATE
(verb) include or contain; have as a component; “A totally new idea is comprised in this paper”; “The record contains many old songs from the 1930’s”
Coffee Trivia
