helpless
- Unable to defend oneself.
- Lacking help; powerless.
- Unable to act without help; needing help; feeble.
- Uncontrollable.
- (obsolete) From which there is no possibility of being saved.
Frequency
Pronounced as (IPA)
/ˈhɛlplɪs/
Etymology
In summary
From Middle English helples, from Old English *helplēas (“helpless”) from Proto-Germanic *helpōlausaz, equivalent to help + -less. Compare Dutch hulpeloos (“helpless”), German hilflos (“helpless”), Danish hjælpeløs (“helpless”) and Swedish hjälplös (“helpless”).
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