sleeve·less \ˈslēvlə̇s\adjective Etymology: Middle English sleveles, from Old English slīeflēas, from slīefe sleeve + -lēas -less 1.: having no sleeve 2. a.: profitless, futile < the errand they were on was sleeveless — Virgilia Peterson > b.Britain: petty, frivolous < the sleeveless butterfly world — Llewelyn Powys > • sleeve·less·nessnoun-es