powerlessadj.n.

Brit.

/ˈpaʊələs/, U.S.

/ˈpaʊ(ə)rləs/

Forms: see power n.¹ and -less suffix.

Origin: Formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: power n.¹, -less suffix.

Etymology: < power n.¹ + -less suffix.

A. adj.

Without power, strength, or ability; wholly unable to act, influence, etc.; helpless, impotent.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > ability > inability > [adjective] > powerless or helpless

mightlessOE

powerlessc1425

impotent1444

mean1525

unpuissant1568

moyenless1599

aidless1608

impuissant1629

paralytic1642

adynamous1656

impotentiala1657

enervous1677

numb1802

fucked1949

dickless1957

c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) ii. 2991 (MED) Astonyd, euerychon Sat in silence, stille as any stoon, Powerles her hertis to reswme.

1552 R. Huloet Abcedarium Anglico Latinum Powerles or lackynge power, impos, impotens.

1596 E. Spenser Second Pt. Faerie Queene iv. vi. sig. F3^v His powrelesse arme benumbd with secret feare.

a1628 J. Preston Serm. before His Majestie (1630) 44 As that which hath sinewes and efficatiousnesse in it [differs] from that which is..powerlesse.

1705 tr. D. Bouhours Art of Crit. ii. 90 They represent to her that she is powerless; that her Husband is inconstant; that every thing forsakes and leaves her.

1765 tr. A. Goudar Chinese Spy I. lxix. 244 He had the liberty of complaining to his daughter, of being the powerless father-in-law to the most powerful King in the world.

1814 W. Wordsworth Excursion iv. 156 Whose strong effects are such As he must bear, being powerless to redress.

1860 E. B. Pusey Minor Prophets 407 Human sense of right is powerless, when there is not the love of God's law.

1908 E. M. Forster Room with View i. 7 Miss Bartlett, though skilled in the delicacies of conversation, was powerless in the presence of brutality.

1988 G. Boddy K. Mansfield i. 73 A blind irrational hatred she felt powerless to control.

B. n.

With the and plural agreement. Powerless or helpless people as a class.

ΚΠ

1656 Duchess of Newcastle Natures Pictures viii. 223 None but base or cruel Tyrants will lay unreasonable Commands, or require wicked Demands to the powerlesse, or vertuous.

1816 S. T. Coleridge Christabel et al. 62 Thirst of revenge, the powerless will Still baffled, and yet burning still.

1895 W. B. Yeats Wanderings Usheen ii. in Poems 36 In what land do the powerless turn the beak Of ravening Sorrow, or the hand of Wrath?

1968 A. K. Armah Beautyful Ones are not yet Born xii. 178 The man..was content to note again how unwilling the powerless became when there was a call for them to resent the powerful.

2000 Guardian (Dar es Salaam) 27 Mar. 8/2 Acts of intimidation by top executives usually have a spinning effect that goes down the ladder of authority until it reaches the powerless on the ground.

Derivatives

ˈpowerlessly adv.

ΘΚΠ

the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > uselessness > uselessness, vanity, or futility > [adverb] > ineffectively > without force or cogency

unmightilyc1443

powerlessly1801

1801 R. Southey Thalaba II. ix. 171 On the sympathizing wax The unadmitted flames play powerlessly.

1823 Examiner 89/1 The doting Scrivener is not powerlessly conceived.

1985 New Yorker 26 Aug. 58/3 We're suddenly free, powerlessly alone in the sky.

This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2022).

单词	powerless
释义	powerlessadj.n. Brit. /ˈpaʊələs/, U.S. /ˈpaʊ(ə)rləs/ Forms: see power n.¹ and -less suffix. Origin: Formed within English, by derivation. Etymons: power n.¹, -less suffix. Etymology: < power n.¹ + -less suffix. A. adj. Without power, strength, or ability; wholly unable to act, influence, etc.; helpless, impotent. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > ability > inability > [adjective] > powerless or helpless mightlessOE powerlessc1425 impotent1444 mean1525 unpuissant1568 moyenless1599 aidless1608 impuissant1629 paralytic1642 adynamous1656 impotentiala1657 enervous1677 numb1802 fucked1949 dickless1957 c1425 J. Lydgate Troyyes Bk. (Augustus A.iv) ii. 2991 (MED) Astonyd, euerychon Sat in silence, stille as any stoon, Powerles her hertis to reswme. 1552 R. Huloet Abcedarium Anglico Latinum Powerles or lackynge power, impos, impotens. 1596 E. Spenser Second Pt. Faerie Queene iv. vi. sig. F3^v His powrelesse arme benumbd with secret feare. View more context for this quotation a1628 J. Preston Serm. before His Majestie (1630) 44 As that which hath sinewes and efficatiousnesse in it [differs] from that which is..powerlesse. 1705 tr. D. Bouhours Art of Crit. ii. 90 They represent to her that she is powerless; that her Husband is inconstant; that every thing forsakes and leaves her. 1765 tr. A. Goudar Chinese Spy I. lxix. 244 He had the liberty of complaining to his daughter, of being the powerless father-in-law to the most powerful King in the world. 1814 W. Wordsworth Excursion iv. 156 Whose strong effects are such As he must bear, being powerless to redress. View more context for this quotation 1860 E. B. Pusey Minor Prophets 407 Human sense of right is powerless, when there is not the love of God's law. 1908 E. M. Forster Room with View i. 7 Miss Bartlett, though skilled in the delicacies of conversation, was powerless in the presence of brutality. 1988 G. Boddy K. Mansfield i. 73 A blind irrational hatred she felt powerless to control. B. n. With the and plural agreement. Powerless or helpless people as a class. ΚΠ 1656 Duchess of Newcastle Natures Pictures viii. 223 None but base or cruel Tyrants will lay unreasonable Commands, or require wicked Demands to the powerlesse, or vertuous. 1816 S. T. Coleridge Christabel et al. 62 Thirst of revenge, the powerless will Still baffled, and yet burning still. 1895 W. B. Yeats Wanderings Usheen ii. in Poems 36 In what land do the powerless turn the beak Of ravening Sorrow, or the hand of Wrath? 1968 A. K. Armah Beautyful Ones are not yet Born xii. 178 The man..was content to note again how unwilling the powerless became when there was a call for them to resent the powerful. 2000 Guardian (Dar es Salaam) 27 Mar. 8/2 Acts of intimidation by top executives usually have a spinning effect that goes down the ladder of authority until it reaches the powerless on the ground. Derivatives ˈpowerlessly adv. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > uselessness > uselessness, vanity, or futility > [adverb] > ineffectively > without force or cogency unmightilyc1443 powerlessly1801 1801 R. Southey Thalaba II. ix. 171 On the sympathizing wax The unadmitted flames play powerlessly. 1823 Examiner 89/1 The doting Scrivener is not powerlessly conceived. 1985 New Yorker 26 Aug. 58/3 We're suddenly free, powerlessly alone in the sky. This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2022). < adj.n.c1425
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