English
gainless
From gain + -less.
A compound of gain + -less
Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm ‘next to’
…
Proto-Germanic *gagana ‘back’
Proto-Germanic *gagną
Old Norse gagn ‘benefit’
Middle English gayn ‘profit’
English gain
Today it means
adj Not producing gain; not bringing advantage; unprofitable.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / gainless