Dictionary

defenceless en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /dɪˈfɛnsləs/ (UK)
• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

Etymology tree English defence Proto-Indo-European *lewh₁- Proto-Indo-European *lewHs-der. Proto-Germanic *leusaną Proto-Germanic *lausaz Proto-Germanic *-lausaz Proto-West Germanic *-laus Old English -lēas Middle English -les English -less English defenceless From defence + -less.

Meanings

1. (UK) Without defence; undefended.
   • Railway engines have been attacked with gunfire by raiding aircraft on both sides of the Channel and the impression has grown up that they are defenceless monsters to be pestered with impunity. The first engine to disprove this vainglorious theory was, we are glad to note, a British one. [The locomotive boiler exploded, causing the aircraft to crash.] 1943 March and April, “Notes and News: Southern Locomotive Destroys Raider”, in Railway Magazine, page 119:
   • The hawk, foul murderer of defenceless birds, has sighted the chicken on the bare patch. 1934, Henry G. Lamond, An Aviary On The Plains, page 95:
   • Paralysed, the old man was defenceless; and the robbers easily stole all of his money.

Forms

Deriveds

defencelessly · defencelessness