English Explanatory Dictionary

homeless

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Lacking a permanent place of residence.
  2. Containing no place that might be called home.
noun
  1. A person who is homeless.

Pronunciation

/ˈhoʊmlɪs/ /ˈhoʊmləs/ en-us-homeless.ogg

Word forms

homeless homelesses

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ḱey- Proto-Indo-European *-mos Proto-Indo-European *ḱóymos Proto-Indo-European *tḱóymos Proto-Germanic *haimaz Proto-West Germanic *haim Old English hām Proto-Indo-European *lewh₁- Proto-Indo-European *lewHs-der. Proto-Germanic *leusaną Proto-Germanic *lausaz Proto-Germanic *-lausaz Proto-West Germanic *-laus Old English -lēas Old English hāmlēas Middle English *homles English homeless From Middle English *homles, *hamles, from Old English hāmlēas (“homeless”), equivalent to home + -less. Cognate with Dutch heemloos, Danish hjemløs (“homeless”), Swedish hemlös (“homeless”). Compare also German heimatlos (“homeless”), Icelandic heimilislaus (“homeless”), West Frisian dakleas (“homeless”, literally “having no roof, roofless”).

Related words

home bum destitute hobo tramp transient vagabond unhoused

Derived words

antihomeless homeless dumping homelessly homelessness homeless shelter nonhomeless politically homeless
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