Not harmful or offensive; completely harmless or inoffensive. Something that appears safe and poses no threat or danger.
From Latin 'innocuus,' from 'in-' (not) + 'nocere' (to harm). The root 'noc' appears in words like 'noxious' (harmful). The word entered English in the 16th century with the same meaning of 'causing no harm.'
Think 'in-NO-CUOUS'—it has 'NO' harm in it! The 'noc' root means harm (like in 'noxious'), so innocuous literally means 'not harmful.' Picture something so innocent and harmless that it wouldn't hurt a fly.
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