helpless
English
/ˈhɛlplɪs/
adj
Definitions
- Unable to defend oneself.
- Lacking help; powerless.
- Unable to act without help; needing help; feeble.
- Uncontrollable.
- (obsolete) From which there is no possibility of being saved.
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English helples inherited from Old English *helplēas (helpless) inherited from Proto-Germanic *helpōlausaz suffix from English help.
Origin
English
help
Gloss
Timeline
Distribution of cognates by language
Geogrpahic distribution of cognates
Cognates and derived terms
- behelp English
- help English
- helpability English
- helpable English
- helpee English
- helper English
- helpest English
- helpfile English
- helpful English
- helplessly English
- helplessness English
- helpline English
- helply English
- helpsheet English
- helpsome English
- helpworthy English
- househelp English
- overhelp English
- self-help English
- telehelp English
- unhelp English
- Hilfe German
- Hilflosigkeit German
- hilflos German
- -e- Dutch, Flemish
- hulp Dutch, Flemish
- hulpeloos Dutch, Flemish
- hulpeloosheid Dutch, Flemish
- *helpōlausaz Proto-Germanic
- hjälp Swedish
- hjälplös Swedish
- *helplēas Old English
- help Middle English
- helples Middle English
- help Welsh
- helpim Tok Pisin
- album Kriol