deedless

English

Etymology

From deed +‎ -less; obsolete sense is from earlier dadless, probably from Old Norse dáðlauss (“without virtue, incapable, lacking in courage and drive, despicable, cowardly”). Cognate with Danish dådløs (“non-heroic”), Swedish dådlös (“listless, shiftless”).

Adjective

deedless (comparative more deedless, superlative most deedless)

1. (of real property) Of real property whose owners' claim is not evidence by formal record of ownership, such as a deed.
2. (obsolete) Helpless; not performing, or not having performed, deeds or exploits; inactive.
   • 1602, William Shakespeare, Troilus and Cressida, act IV, scene v, line 97:

     firm of word, / Speaking in deeds and deedless in his tongue

Related terms

• dateless

Translations

inactive

• Dutch: dadeloos (nl)

References

• Chambers's Etymological Dictionary, 1896, p. 114
• “deedless”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
• “deedless”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.