-LESS


Meaning of -LESS in English

lə̇s adjective suffix

Etymology: Middle English -les, -lesse, from Old English -lēas, from lēas devoid, false; akin to Old Saxon lōs loose, false, Middle Dutch los loose, Old High German lōs, Old Norse lauss loose, Gothic laus empty, Old English losian to get lost, perish — more at lose

1. : destitute of : not having : free from

wit less

child less

father less

doubt less

2. : beyond the range of — in adjectives formed from nouns of action

count less

3. : unable or lacking power to be acted on or to act (in a specified way) — in adjectives formed from verbs

resist less

daunt less

quench less

tire less

fade less

cease less

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.