laneless
|lane/less|
/ˈleɪn.ləs/
absence of lanes
Etymology
'laneless' is a modern English formation combining the noun 'lane' and the suffix '-less' (from Old English '-lēas'), where '-less' meant 'without' or 'free from'.
'lane' comes from Middle English 'lane' meaning 'narrow way' (from earlier Old English usage for a narrow way or passage). The suffix '-less' derives from Old English '-lēas' and developed into the modern productive suffix '-less'. Together they formed the adjective 'laneless' in modern English.
The formation originally meant simply 'without a lane' (literal combination of 'lane' + 'less') and has retained that core meaning of 'lacking lanes' in current usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
without lanes; lacking marked or designated lanes (for example, a road that has no painted lane lines or lane divisions).
The rural road was laneless, so drivers had to share the entire roadway.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/08 23:02