There's actually nothing wrong with the word fatuous. True, it's nothing to do with the word fat, but the added spectre of that insult adds even more power to the general contempt implied.
So why feature the word fatuous today?
Well, because there are many more occasions when it can't be justifiably applied than where it can.*
For instance, using the word fatuous to complain about the coverage of a public event watched by an estimated 1.9 billion people (yes, yes, I'm talking about the royal wedding) because it is of no importance or interest is plainly...
...you got it.
It's fatuous, isn't it.
Word Not To Use Today Unless You're Not An Idiot: fatuous. This word, meaning complacently or inanely foolish, comes from the Latin fatuus. It's related to the word fatiscere, to gape.
*It occurs to me that this is true of almost all words, like toadstool and bucket and didgeridoo. But, hey...
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