English Explanatory Dictionary

helpless

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Unable to defend oneself.
  2. Lacking help; powerless.
  3. Unable to act without help; needing help; feeble.
  4. Uncontrollable.
  5. From which there is no possibility of being saved.

Pronunciation

/ˈhɛlplɪs/ en-us-helpless.ogg

Word forms

helpless more helpless most helpless

Etymology

From Middle English helples, from Old English *helplēas (“helpless”) from Proto-Germanic *helpōlausaz, equivalent to help + -less. Compare Dutch hulpeloos (“helpless”), German hilflos (“helpless”), Danish hjælpeløs (“helpless”) and Swedish hjälplös (“helpless”).

Derived words

helplessdesk helplessly helplessness
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