a. [f. as prec. + -LESS.] Without foundation, baseless.
1648. Hammond, Serm., 2 Cor. vii. 1, Wks. 1684, IV. 506. A flattering, fallacious, foundationless, because unconditionate hope.
1821. Examiner, 2/1. The rumour … was not altogether foundationless.
1849. Ruskin, Sev. Lamps, vi. 165. Those thin, tottering, foundationless shells of splintered wood and imitated stone.
Hence Foundationlessness.
1895. Blackw. Mag., CLVIII. July, 33/2. On this basis rests Mr Balfour’s Provisional philosophy or ‘Provisional Unification.’ Its one foundation is the foundationlessness of other systems.
