relationlessadj.
/rᵻˈleɪʃnləs/, U.S. /rəˈleɪʃ(ə)nləs/, /riˈleɪʃ(ə)nləs/ 1. Of a person: having no relatives.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > [adjective] > without kin
kindredless1667
kinless1720
kithlessc1750
relationless1822
1822 C. Lamb in London Mag. Feb. 177/2 The survivor stands gaping and relationless as if it remembered its brother.
1873 Spectator 15 Feb. 213/2 One of them is a relationless orphan.
1909 Westm. Gaz. 20 Oct. 2/2 The estates of childless and relationless millionaires.
1965 S. Marcus Dickens ii. 64 Oliver, a nameless orphan.., is himself a model of the mechanical, disinherited, relationless being of classical economic doctrine.
1996 A. O. Eysturov Daughters Self-creation iv. 124 According to the mother the worst fate that could befall Rocío is to become relationless.
2. Having no relation or connection to anything else.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > non-relation > [adjective]
frenne1556
unlinked1587
untouching1602
positive1609
unrespectless1614
unrelating1655
inconnexive1660
unaccessory1664
unconcerned1668
extraneous1671
unrelative1700
unkindred1701
unrelated1701
unconnected1745
irrelate1845
unrelational1863
unakin1864
inconsequent1869
relationless1878
irrelated1886
disrelated1893
1878 Galaxy Jan. 79 The dry bones of meaningless and relationless facts are fitted into a common framework.
1884 ‘Scotus Novanticus’ Metaphysica Nova et Vetusta 11. 86 The datum is not atomic or relationless.
1911 Proc. Mus. Assoc. May 121 Oneness and homogeneity could be evolved from such apparently relationless short-cut phrases.
1959 A. W. Levi Philos. & Mod. World xii. 503 A world of individuals so hermetically sealed and autonomous that they are practically relationless.
2008 D. E. W. Fenner Art in Context iii. 111 Art does not serve a function other than as a source of pure, relationless contemplation.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2009; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1822