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anodin

harmless, innocuous

adjective ah-no-DAN Rare

Origin: From Greek anōdynos 'free from pain'

Also means

trivial, anodyne

Usage Note

Anodin describes something that causes no harm or has no significant effect — a remark, a remedy, or a situation. Its feminine form is anodine. In medicine it historically described pain-relieving preparations; in everyday use it now more often means 'unremarkable' or 'bland', as in une remarque anodine.

Examples

"Sa remarque semblait anodine, mais elle blessa."

Natural Translation

His remark seemed harmless, but it hurt.

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