'joylessness' is formed in modern English by combining the noun 'joy' + the adjective-forming suffix '-less' + the noun-forming suffix '-ness' (meaning 'state or quality of being'). 'joy' ultimately comes from Old French 'joie' and Latin 'gaudium'. ' -less' comes from Old English 'lēas' meaning 'free from, without'. ' -ness' comes from Old English '-nes(s)e' indicating a state.

'joy' changed from Old French 'joie' to Middle English 'joye' and eventually to modern English 'joy'; 'joyless' was formed by adding Old English/early Middle English-derived '-less' to denote 'without joy', and 'joylessness' later arose by adding '-ness' to 'joyless' in Modern English.

Initially, components like 'joy' and suffixes '-less'/'-ness' retained meanings of 'pleasure' and 'without/state' respectively; over time they combined to yield the current specific meaning 'the state of being without joy'.