Where does “helpless” come from?

Helpless derives from Middle English helples, from Old English helplēas, from Proto-Germanic helpōlausaz, formed from helpō and the suffix meaning without, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European ḱelb-.

helpless (English): Unable to defend oneself; Lacking help;...

Definitions

  1. Unable to defend oneself; Lacking help;...

Ancestry of “helpless”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishhelples—
2Old Englishhelplēashelpless
3Proto-Germanichelpōlausazhelpless
4Proto-Germanic-lausaz-less, lacking, devoid of
5Proto-Germaniclausazloose, free; empty, devoid; false, untrue
6Proto-Indo-EuropeanlewH-louse

Words derived from “helpless”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European lewH- →Every word from Proto-Germanic lausaz →Every word from Proto-Germanic -lausaz →