Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “formless” come from?

Formless derives from Middle English -les (suffix meaning "without") added to Old English form, from Latin forma, from Ancient Greek μορφή, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European per-.

formless (English): Without form; shapeless; Without the use of forms...

Definitions

  1. Without form; shapeless; Without the use of forms...

Ancestry of “formless”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishformTo do with shape; To do with structure or...
2Middle Englishformefirst; shape, figure, manner, bench, frame, seat,...
3Old Englishformafirst
4Old Englishforebefore; forepart, front
5Proto-Germanicfuraibefore, in front of; before, in front
6Proto-Indo-Europeanpreh₂-before, in front
7Proto-Indo-Europeanper-before, in front; first; to go through
8Proto-Indo-Europeanpr̥tóspassed , crossed

Words derived from “formless”

  • formlessness
  • formlessly
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pr̥tós →