suffix, forming adjs. The OE. léas, like its equivalents in the other Teut. langs. (see LEASE a., LOOSE a.), was used in the sense ‘devoid (of),’ ‘free from),’ both as a separate adj., governing the genitive, as in firena léas free from crimes, and (more frequently) as the second element of compounds, the first element being a sb., as in fácnléas guileless, wífléas without a wife. The adj., as a separate word in the relevant sense, did not survive into ME., and the ending -léas became a mere suffix, which was, and still is, very freely attached to sbs. to form adjs. with privative sense.
In many instances the sb. to which the suffix was attached was a noun of action, coincident in form with the stem of a related vb., and some of the adjs. so formed had the sense ‘not to be —ed,’ ‘un- —able,’ as in countless, numberless. On the supposed analogy of these words, the suffix has been appended to many verbs, as in abashless, dauntless, describeless, expressless, quenchless, resistless, tireless, † topless (= not overtopped), weariless.
Of the very common recent use of the suffix in the formation of nonce-wds. a few examples are subjoined.
1840. Thackeray, Catherine, iv. Moneyless, wireless, horseless, corporal-less.
1870. Furnivall, Boorde’s Introd., etc. Pref. 14. The possibility that the undated dedicationless Wyer was issued before 1542.
1885. Emily Innes, in Athenæum, 12 Dec., 764/1. Our butcherless, bakerless, tailorless, cobblerless, doctorless, bookless, milkless, postless, and altogether comfortless jungle.
1892. W. H. Hudson, Nat. La Plata, 136. These peaceful gnatless days.
1897. Mary Kingsley, W. Africa, 341. ‘I have not brought my card-case with me.’… I said I was similarly card-caseless.
