insipid

adj

Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Italic *n̥- Latin in- Proto-Indo-European *sep- Proto-Italic *sapiō Latin sapiō Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁-der. Proto-Italic *-iðos Latin -idus Latin sapidus Latin īnsipiduslbor. French insipidebor. English insipid From French insipide, from Latin īnsipidus (“tasteless”), from in- (“not”) + sapidus (“savory”). In some senses, perhaps influenced by insipient (“unwise, foolish, stupid”).

1. Unappetizingly flavorless.

   “The diners were disappointed with the plain, insipid soup they were served.”

   “There was no limit on drinks, and the guy next to me tucked away a few G and Ts. I confined myself to a pleasant Brewdog Ale and a glass of slightly insipid wine.”

2. Flat; lacking character or definition.

   “The textbook had a most insipid presentation of the controversy.”

   “If the secret history of books could be written, and the author’s private thoughts and meanings noted down alongside of his story, how many insipid volumes would become interesting, and dull tales excite the reader!”