Where does “careless” come from?

Careless derives from Middle English careles, from Old English carlēas, meaning without care or concern.

careless (English): Not concerned or worried; Not giving sufficient...

Definitions

  1. Not concerned or worried; Not giving sufficient...

Ancestry of “careless”, step by step

careless traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English care

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishcareGrief, sorrow; Close attention; concern;...
2Middle Englishcaregrief; sorrow
3Old Englishcaruworry, anxiety, care; sorrow, grief
4Proto-West Germanickarucare, worry
5Proto-Germanickarōcomplaint, lament, grievance, moan; worry,...
6Proto-Indo-Europeanǵeh₂r-to shout, cry; exclamation; voice; to call, cry

via Middle English careles

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishcareles—
2Old Englishcarlēascareless, reckless, void of care, free from care,...
3Old Englishlēasfalse, lax; false, void, loose; devoid of, loose...
4Proto-Germanic*laus—

Words derived from “careless”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵeh₂r- →