a. [f. TERM sb. + -LESS.]
1. Having no term or limit; boundless, endless.
c. 1586. C’tess Pembroke, Ps. LXXXIX. xii. In tearmlesse turnes, my tearmlesse truth assuring.
1596. Spenser, Hymn Heavenly Love, 75. Ne hath their day, ne hath their blisse, an end, But there their termelesse time in pleasure spend.
1652. Benlowes, Theoph., IV. xl. That pen was dipt i’ith Standish of thy Blood Which wrot th’ Indenture of our termless Good!
1851. Ruskin, Mod. Paint., I. II. IV. iii. § 14. The same … laws which require perfect simplicity of mass, require infinite and termless complication of detail.
2. Incapable of being expressed by terms; inexpressible, indescribable. poet. (Cf. PHRASELESS.)
1597. Shaks., Lover’s Compl., 94. His phenix downe began but to appeare Like vnshorne veluet, on that termlesse skin.
3. Not dependent on or limited by any terms or conditions; unconditional.
1902. Westm. Gaz., 14 Oct., 1/3. Not a peace by interruption of hostilities; but the simple, unconditioned, termless peace supplied by a ‘fight to the finish.’
