Where does “plightless” come from?

plightless (English) comes from English plight, from Middle English plight, from Old English pliht, from Proto-West Germanic plihti, from Proto-West Germanic plehan — to stand up for; to be responsible for.

plightless (English): Devoid of plight

Definitions

  1. Devoid of plight

Ancestry of “plightless”, step by step

plightless traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English plight

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishplightA dire or unfortunate situation; A condition or...
2Middle Englishplightrisk, danger; risky promise, peril
3Old Englishplihtdanger, risk
4Proto-West Germanicplihticare, maintenance, diligence; responsibility,...
5Proto-West Germanicplehanto stand up for; to be responsible for

via Middle English plightles

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishplightles
Every word from Proto-West Germanic plehanEvery word from Proto-West Germanic plihtiEvery word from Old English pliht