innocuous

adj

Etymology: From Latin innocuus (“harmless”) (therefore, no gemination in + nocuous).

1. Harmless; producing no ill effect.

   “With its green cupola or tapering spire, / Which sunset touches with innocuous fire, / The little church appears, to sanctify / The precincts duly where men live and die— [...]”

   “The shells fell for the most part innocuous; an eyewitness saw children at play beside the flaming houses; not a soul was injured.”

2. Inoffensive; unprovocative; unexceptionable.

   “Ruth Devlin announced that the song must wait, though it appeared to be innocuous and child-like in its sentiments.”

   “He sat down, and lighted a cigarette, casting about the while for an innocuous topic of conversation.”