deedless

English

Etymology

deed +‎ -less; obsolete sense is from earlier dadless, probably from Old Norse dáðlauss (“without virtue, incapable, lacking in courage and drive, despicable, cowardly”). Cognate with Danish dådløs (“non-heroic”), Swedish dådlös (“listless, shiftless”).

Adjective

deedless (comparative more deedless, superlative most deedless)

(of real property) Of real property whose owners' claim is not evidence by formal record of ownership, such as a deed.
(obsolete) Helpless; not performing, or not having performed, deeds or exploits; inactive.
- 1602, William Shakespeare, Troilus and Cressida, Act IV, Scene v, line 97:
  firm of word, / Speaking in deeds and deedless in his tongue

Related terms

dateless

Translations

inactive

Dutch: dadeloos (nl)

References

Chambers's Etymological Dictionary, 1896, p. 114
deedless in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
deedless in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.