Unprofitably

adv. (UN-¹ 11.)

1395.  Purvey, Remonstr. (1851), 25. The comoun puple is … vnprofitabli ocupied.

c. 1425.  Eng. Conq. Ireland, 142. Such that … al thynge vnprofytably wasteden, to harme of peesmen.

1508.  Fisher, Wks. (1876), 75. Euery worde spoken vnproufytably and in vayne.

1561.  T. Norton, Calvin’s Inst., IV. xx. 162 b. This is not vnprofitablye appointed by the prouidence of God.

1611.  B. Jonson, Catiline, I. i. I should not now vnprofitably spend my selfe in words.

a. 1677.  Barrow, Serm., Wks. 1687, I. xxxi. 451. To prevent this being necessarily and unprofitably deprived of our goods.

1737.  Glover, Leonidas, IV. 237. Unprofitably wasting precious hours In vain discussion.

1819.  Shelley, Cenci, II. ii. 140. Thus unprofitably I clasp the phantom of unfelt delights.

1856.  De Quincey, Confess., Wks. I. 135. Impressing … a new movement upon dialogues that loitered painfully, or see-sawed unprofitably.