Where does “smilelessness” come from?

smilelessness (English) comes from English smileless, from English smile, from Middle English smilen, from Old Norse smīla, from Proto-Germanic smīlijaną, from Proto-Indo-European smēy-.

smilelessness (English): Absence of smiles

Definitions

  1. Absence of smiles

Ancestry of “smilelessness”, step by step

smilelessness traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English smileless

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishsmilelessWithout a smile, unsmiling
2EnglishsmileA facial expression comprised by flexing the...
3Middle Englishsmilento smile
4Old Norsesmīlato smile
5Proto-Germanicsmīlijanąto smile
6Proto-Indo-Europeansmēy-

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 smēy-
smilelessness — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer