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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

toolishness en · NOUN

Etymology

From tool + -ish + -ness, influenced by foolishness.

Meanings

  1. (uncountable) The nature of being a tool.
    • The simplest tool I can think of is a piece of gravel used for making a road. Nothing is done to it, it owes its being a tool to the fact that is subserves a purpose. A broken piece of granite used for macadamizing a road is a more complex instrument, about the toolishness of which no doubt can be entertained. a. 1902, Samuel Butler, Geoffrey Keynes and Brian Hill editors, Notebooks: Selections, 1951, page 122
  2. (uncountable) Excessive concern with tools rather than results.
    • By now we should have learned that "toolishness" is foolishness. Showering fancy equipment and toys on classrooms without smart planning is unlikely to […] 2002 March 1, “Tech Smart: making discerning technology choices”, in Multimedia Schools:
    • The walls and halls of Hechinger headquarters are bedizened with icons to tools and toolishness, ranging from classic photographs to a machine that makes […] 1989 September 22, “Touching Tools Of the Trade”, in Washington Post: