Where does “gearlessness” come from?

gearlessness (English) comes from English gearless, from English gear, from Middle English gere, from Old Norse gervi, from Proto-Germanic garwijaną, from Proto-Germanic garwaz, from Proto-Germanic ga-, from Proto-Indo-European ḱóm — resin, gum; to say, speak.

gearlessness (English): Absence of gear or gears

Definitions

  1. Absence of gear or gears

Ancestry of “gearlessness”, step by step

gearlessness traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English gearless

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishgearlessWithout gears
2EnglishgearEquipment or paraphernalia, especially that used...
3Middle EnglishgereAlternative form of gery; Alternative form of...
4Old Norsegervigear
5Proto-Germanicgarwijanąto prepare
6Proto-Germanicgarwazready, prepared
7Proto-Germanicga-Indicates association or togetherness; co-;...
8Proto-Indo-Europeanḱómbeside, near, by, with
9Proto-Indo-EuropeanḱeDeictic particle, here; Post-positional...
10Middle Englishkyt
11Germankittputty certain kinds of cement used for fixing e.g. window panes
12Old High Germankuti
13Proto-West Germanickwidugum, resin
14Proto-Germanickweduzresin
15Proto-Indo-Europeangʷet-resin, gum; to say, speak

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 gʷet-