in cassum

Latin

Alternative forms

• incassum

Etymology

From in (“in”) +‎ cassum (“hollow, empty”), accusative of cassus.

Adverb

in cassum (not comparable)

1. in vain

   Synonyms: frūstrā, nēquīquam

   In cassum cadunt omnia tua promissa.

   All your promises are in vain.

   • c. 194 BCE, Plautus, Poenulus 360:

     Bene promittis multa ex multis: omnia in cassum cadunt.

     You promise many things to many people: they all prove to be in vain.

     You pile up fine promises sky-high: down they all drop to nothing. (translated by Paul Nixon, Plautus IV (Loeb), 1980, p. 37)

   • 27 BCE – 25 BCE, Titus Livius, Ab Urbe Condita 2.49:

     In cassum missae preces.

     The prayers were sent in vain.