Where does “brotherlessness” come from?

brotherlessness (English) comes from English brotherless, from Middle English brotherles, from Old English brōþorlēas, from Proto-Germanic brōþērlausaz, from Proto-Germanic -lausaz, from Proto-Germanic lausaz, from Proto-Indo-European lewH- — louse.

brotherlessness (English): The state or condition of being brotherless

Definitions

  1. The state or condition of being brotherless

Ancestry of “brotherlessness”, step by step

brotherlessness traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English brotherless

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishbrotherlessWithout a brother
2Middle Englishbrotherlesbrotherless
3Old Englishbrōþorlēasbrotherless
4Proto-Germanicbrōþērlausazwithout a brother
5Proto-Germanic-lausaz-less, lacking, devoid of
6Proto-Germaniclausazloose, free; empty, devoid; false, untrue
7Proto-Indo-EuropeanlewH-louse

via English Ness

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishNessAn Ulster princess and the mother of Conchobar mac Nessa and Findchoem in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. Daughter of Eochaid Sálbuide. Also the mother of Cormac Cond Longas by incest with Conchobar mac Nessa
2Middle Englishnesse
3Old Englishnæsnot, not at all; not; first/third-person singular...
4Proto-Germanicnasjąfoothill; headland; cape
5Proto-Indo-Europeannéh₂snose
Every word from Proto-Indo-European lewH-Every word from Proto-Germanic lausazEvery word from Proto-Germanic -lausaz
brotherlessness — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer