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defenceless. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
defenceless, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
defenceless in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
defenceless you have here. The definition of the word
defenceless will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
defenceless, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
From defence + -less.
Pronunciation
Adjective
defenceless (comparative more defenceless, superlative most defenceless)
- (British spelling) Without defence; undefended.
Blind, deaf, and paralysed, the old man was defenceless; and the robbers easily stole all of his money.
1934, Henry G. Lamond, An Aviary On The Plains, page 95:The hawk, foul murderer of defenceless birds, has sighted the chicken on the bare patch.
1943 March and April, “Notes and News: Southern Locomotive Destroys Raider”, in Railway Magazine, page 119:Railway engines have been attacked with gunfire by raiding aircraft on both sides of the Channel and the impression has grown up that they are defenceless monsters to be pestered with impunity. The first engine to disprove this vainglorious theory was, we are glad to note, a British one. [The locomotive boiler exploded, causing the aircraft to crash.]
Derived terms
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