a. Now only Sc. [f. THEW sb.1 + -LESS. Cf. THOWLESS.]

1

  † 1.  Destitute of morals or virtue; vicious, immoral: = THOWLESS 1. Obs.

2

a. 1327.  Pol. Songs (Camden), 255. For lust hath leve, the lond is theweles.

3

1513.  Douglas, Æneis, IV. Prol. 163. Sic thewles lustis [sall returne] in bittir pane and wo.

4

  2.  Without energy, inert, spiritless: = THOWLESS 2.

5

1895.  Crockett, Men of Moss-Hags, l. He was a quiet, thewless, pleasantly conforming man.

6

1896.  Snowden, Web of Weaver, vi. 72. I seemed to stand thewless.

7

1900.  C. Murray, Hamewith, 85. Like some puir dwinin’ thewless wicht Wi’ death in view.

8

1904.  Dundee Advertiser, 13 June, 8/1. That the ‘thewless’ and ‘wastrel’ class be relegated to labour colonies there to work out their own salvation.

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