subjectless

subjectless

English

Etymology

subject +‎ -less

Adjective

subjectless (not comparable)

1. Lacking a subject (citizen).
   • 1840, Thomas Carlyle, Heroes and Hero Worship‎:

     The subjects without King can do nothing; the subjectless King can do something.

2. Lacking a subject or theme.
   • 1992 May 8, Mitchell Stevens, “Andrew Young”, in Chicago Reader‎:

     Using a painstaking technique favored by 15th-century Italians for their most sacred images, Young makes disarmingly beautiful pictures in a loose, almost subjectless language of color and texture and form.

3. (grammar) Lacking a grammatical subject.
   • 2007 July 15, Ann Hodgman, “Children’s Books”, in New York Times‎:

     “We’re here to help you” versus “Were here to help you” makes no sense; a subjectless, past-tense message — as in, “The doctors were here to help you, but now they’re gone” — has scarcely appeared in the history of the universe.

Translations

lacking subject

Finnish: subjektiton (lacking grammatical subject); alamaiseton (lacking citizens)