defenselessly
|de-fense-less-ly|
B2
/dɪˈfɛnsləsli/
(defenseless)
without protection
Etymology
Etymology Information
'defenseless' originates from the Old French word 'defenseless', which is derived from 'defense', meaning 'protection'.
Historical Evolution
'defenseless' evolved from the Middle English word 'defenseles', which was used to describe someone or something without protection.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'without defense or protection', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adverb 1
in a manner lacking protection or defense.
The rabbit sat defenselessly in the open field.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/03/23 21:24