Seamus Heaney

The Heaneys were aristocrats, in the sense that they took for granted a code of behavior that was given and unspoken. Argumentation, persuasion, speech itself, for God's sake, just seemed otiose and superfluous to them.

Irish Poet

Use 'otiose' to stress that something is so unnecessary it has no impact on the situation.

Completely Unnecessary

'Otiose' often implies a negative opinion about the unnecessary nature of something.

Negative Connotation

'Otiose' is typically used in more formal or academic contexts, rather than casual conversation.

Formal Context

'Otiose' in its archaic sense conveys a relaxed state of inactivity, like being on vacation.

Relaxed Inactivity

'Otiose' hints at being unoccupied by choice, not because of laziness or inability.

Not Simply Lazy

The idle sense of 'otiose' is less common today, but useful for understanding historical texts.