useful
Meaning
able to be used for a practical purpose or in several ways; helpful or beneficial.
Structure
Usage
a pocket knife is a useful tool for camping trips.
she gave me some useful advice on how to prepare for the interview.
this app is useful for learning new vocabulary.
Etymology
The word 'useful' is a transparent compound formed within English from the native elements 'use' and the suffix '-ful'. The core concept of 'use' traces back to Latin 'uti' (to use, employ), which entered English via Old French. The suffix '-ful' is of Germanic origin, a common English adjective-forming element meaning 'full of' or 'having the qualities of'. The literal combination, 'full of use', logically evolved into the modern abstract sense of being beneficial or serving a practical purpose, perfectly illustrating how English builds descriptive terms from its inherited lexical stock.
Analysis
use (from old english 'īsian' meaning to use, employ, from latin 'uti' via old french 'user'), ful (from old english '-ful', an adjective-forming suffix meaning 'full of', 'characterized by').