Dictionary

luckless en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

Etymology tree English luck 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 luckless From luck + -less.

Meanings

1. Unsuccessful, in a failing manner.
   • The search party returned dejected from the luckless search.
2. Without luck, unfortunate.
   • That Wolves reached half-time on level terms had much to do with the ultimately luckless Hennessey, who was in action in the opening minute to tip away Samir Nasri's shot following a City corner. 2011 October 29, Neil Johnston, “Norwich 3 - 3 Blackburn”, in BBC Sport, archived from the original on 15 Jul 2020:
   • The luckless third-class passengers were required to stand in open wagons (or "Stanhopes"), which were of the same length and width as the carriages, and divided into four compartments by two bars running diagonally across the vehicle and crossing in the middle. 1956 February, B. D. J. Walsh, “"Broad Gauge" in East Anglia”, in Railway Magazine, page 97:
   • Agents of the law, luckless pedestrian 1976, Donald Fagen with Steely Dan, Don't Take Me Alive:

Forms

Deriveds

lucklessness · lucklessly

Translations (7)

fo ólukkuligur (without luck) · de glücklos (without luck) · bg безуспешен (unsuccessful in a failing manner) · bg без късмет (without luck) · fo óheppin (without luck) · de erfolglos (unsuccessful in a failing manner) · hi अभागा (without luck)