'authorless' originates from English, specifically the word 'author' combined with the suffix '-less', where '-less' meant 'without'.

'author' came into English from Old French (auctor/author) and ultimately from Latin 'auctor' meaning 'originator' or 'promoter'; the adjective 'authorless' was formed in Modern English by adding the native English suffix '-less' to 'author'.

Initially it meant 'without an author' and has retained that basic meaning into modern usage.