infecundus (of the soil; opposed to fecundus): sterilis (barren; of a year; opposed to fertilis: of the soil, opposed to opimus): inutilis (useless): vanus (that remains without effect, vain; e.g., undertaking, inceptum): irritus (opposed to ratus; followed by no substantial effect; e.g., inceptum; fruitless requests, preces; labor, labor). (The words are found in this connection and order.) vanus et irritus; irritus et vanus: fruitless things, cassa, orum; inania, ium: to take fruitless trouble or pains, operam perdere; operam frustra consumere or conterere; oleum et operam perdere (the last proverbially, Cic., ad Div., 7, 1, 3); saxum sarrire (also proverbially, Martisalis, 3, 91, 20); frustra laborem suscipere.