Where does “brainless” come from?
Brainless derives from Middle English braynles, formed from Middle English brayn and Old English -lēas (meaning without), itself from Old English lēas, Proto-Germanic lausaz, and Proto-Indo-European men-.
brainless (English): Having no brain; Unintelligent, with little...
Definitions
- Having no brain; Unintelligent, with little...
Ancestry of “brainless”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | braynles | ill-advised, stupid, mindless |
| 2 | Middle English | brayn | The brain or cerebrum; the organ of thought;... |
| 3 | Old English | bræġn | brain |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | *bragn | brain |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | bragną | brain |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | mregʰnom | skull, brain |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | men- | to think, mind; spiritual activity; to stay,... |