'fruitlessness' originates from the word 'fruitless', which is derived from the Old French word 'fructueux', meaning 'fruitful', with the negative prefix 'less' indicating absence.

'fruitless' changed from the Old French word 'fructueux' and eventually became the modern English word 'fruitless'.

Initially, it meant 'without fruit or results', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.