English
heirless
Heirless comes from Middle English eireles.
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500eireles
- Englishearliest quotation 2009heirless
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500eireles
- Englishearliest quotation 2009heirless
Earliest quotation: 2009, Dan Bilefsky, Hurdles in Eastern Europe Thwart Restitution Claims: “A number of Western European countries, led by Germany,…”
Formed from heir + -less
Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰeh₁- ‘to leave behind, abandon’
Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰeh₁ro- ‘derelict’
Latin hērēs ‘heir, heiress’
Anglo-Norman eir
Middle English heir
English heir
Every English word from Middle English eireles
Today it means
adj Without an heir.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Middle English eireles / heirless