helpless
UK: ˈhɛlpləs | US: ˈhɛlpləs
adj. unable to act or function without assistance; powerless
adj. lacking protection or support; vulnerable
The word "helpless" combines the Old English root "help" (meaning aid or support) with the suffix "-less" (derived from Old English "-lēas," meaning "without"). The suffix "-less" is a productive morpheme in English, often added to nouns to form adjectives denoting absence (e.g., "hopeless," "fearless"). The compound emerged in Middle English (circa 1300s) to describe a state of being without aid or resources, reflecting a straightforward but vivid negation of capability.
The stranded hiker felt helpless as night fell.
Without tools, he was helpless to repair the broken engine.
The orphaned puppy looked helpless in the rain.
She gave a helpless shrug when asked for directions.
The system crash left the IT team helpless until backups were restored.