footlessness
|foot-less-ness|
/ˈfʊt.ləs.nəs/
without feet; without foundation
Etymology
'footlessness' originates from Old English components 'fōt' + '-lēas' + '-nes(s)a', where 'fōt' meant 'foot', '-lēas' meant 'without' and '-nes(s)a' formed a noun denoting a state or condition.
'foot' changed from Old English 'fōt' (from Proto-Germanic '*fōtuz' and ultimately PIE root '*ped-') into modern English 'foot'. The suffix '-less' comes from Old English '-lēas' and '-ness' from Old English '-nes(s)a'; these elements combined in Middle English to form compounds like 'footless' and later the noun 'footlessness'.
Initially it meant 'the state of having no feet' (literal), but over time it also evolved to be used metaphorically to mean 'lack of foundation' or 'baselessness'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the condition of having no feet; the state of being footless (literal, physical).
The patient's congenital footlessness required specialized prosthetic care.
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Noun 2
lack of a firm basis or foundation; groundlessness or baselessness (figurative).
Scholars criticized the theory for its footlessness, noting that its claims were not supported by evidence.
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Last updated: 2025/12/10 18:24