Where does “spitelessness” come from?

spitelessness (English) comes from English spiteless, from English spite, from Middle English spit, from Middle English despit, from Old French despit, from Latin dēspectus, from Latin dēspiciō, from Latin dē- — afterwards, post; by, at.

spitelessness (English): Lack of spite

Definitions

  1. Lack of spite

Ancestry of “spitelessness”, step by step

spitelessness traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English spiteless

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishspitelessFree from spite
2EnglishspiteIll will or hatred toward another, accompanied...
3Middle Englishspit
4Middle Englishdespit
5Old Frenchdespit
6Latindēspectusdisdained, despised
7Latindēspiciōto look down upon
8Latindē-of; from
9Latinof; concerning; about
10Latinpostbehind; after, since, besides, except; behind,...
11Latinposteablative singular of postis
12Proto-Italicpostibehind, after
13Proto-Indo-Europeanpóstiafter
14Proto-Indo-Europeanpósafterwards, post; by, at

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 pós
spitelessness — Etymology, Origin & Word History | Etymology Explorer