motherless

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Without a (living) mother.
  2. Without mother (mucilaginous substance in fermenting liquid).
  3. Without a history or predecessor.
adv
  1. very, completely (especially in reference to drunkenness)

Pronunciation

en-au-motherless.ogg

Word forms

motherless more motherless most motherless

Etymology

From Middle English moderles, from Old English mōdorlēas, from Proto-Germanic *mōdērlausaz, equivalent to mother + -less. Cognate with Saterland Frisian muurloos (“motherless”), Dutch moederloos (“motherless”), German mutterlos (“motherless”), Danish moderløs (“motherless”), Swedish moderlös (“motherless”), Icelandic móðurlaus (“motherless”).

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