Word Study
[2x]
:
-less
CIDE DICTIONARY
-less, [AS. leás loose, false; akin to OS. l loose, false, D. los loose, loos false, sly, G. los loose, Icel. lauss loose, vacant, Goth. laus empty, vain, and also to E. loose, lose. Lose, and cf. Loose, Leasing.].
A privative adjective suffix, denoting without, destitute of, not having; as witless, childless, fatherless. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
-less, suffix forming adjectives and adverbs:
1 from nouns, meaning 'not having, without, free from' (doubtless; powerless).
2 from verbs, meaning 'not affected by or doing the action of the verb' (fathomless; tireless).
1 from nouns, meaning 'not having, without, free from' (doubtless; powerless).
2 from verbs, meaning 'not affected by or doing the action of the verb' (fathomless; tireless).
Derivative
-lessly suffix forming adverbs. -lessness suffix forming nouns.
Etymology
OE -leas f. leas devoid of
For further exploring for "-less" in Webster Dictionary Online
