Ineffectually \In`ef*fec"tu*al*ly\, adv. Without effect; in vain. Hereford . . . had been besieged for about two months ineffectually by the Scots. --Ludlow.
ineffectually adv : in an ineffectual manner; "she tried ineffectually to light the primus, and Thomas came to help her" [ant: {effectually}]