defenseless
UK: dɪˈfɛnsləs | US: dɪˈfɛnsləs
adj. lacking protection or the ability to resist harm or danger
adj. vulnerable due to the absence of defensive measures
defenseless = defense<protection> + less<without>
- defense: From Latin defensa (protection, guarding), derived from defendere (to ward off).
- less: Old English suffix -lēas, meaning "without" or "lacking."
Etymology Origin:
The word combines "defense," rooted in Latin defendere (to shield or protect), with the Old English suffix "-less," indicating absence. It evolved to describe a state of vulnerability by literally meaning "without defense." The logical progression reflects physical or metaphorical exposure to harm.
The village was defenseless against the sudden attack.
Without a lawyer, he felt defenseless in court.
The software update left the system defenseless to hackers.
Her argument seemed defenseless against his criticism.
The baby birds appeared defenseless in the open nest.