Where does “reckless” come from?

Reckless derives from Old English receleas, formed from Old English rec- (care) combined with Old English -lēas (suffix meaning without), which traces through Old English lēas to Proto-Germanic lausaz and Proto-Indo-European reǵ-.

reckless (English): Careless or heedless; headstrong or rash;...

Definitions

  1. Careless or heedless; headstrong or rash;...

Ancestry of “reckless”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishrekles—
2Old Englishrēcelēasreckless, careless, negligent
3Old English-lēas-less
4Proto-West Germanic*-lauswithout, -less
5Proto-Germanic-lausaz-less, lacking, devoid of
6Proto-Germaniclausazloose, free; empty, devoid; false, untrue
7Proto-Indo-EuropeanlewH-louse

Words derived from “reckless”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European lewH- →Every word from Proto-Germanic lausaz →Every word from Old English -lēas →