kindelæs

Middle English

Etymology

From kynde (“nature, disposition, capacity”) +‎ -les (“without”), from Old English cynd. Compare English kindless.

Adjective

kindelæs

  1. (Ormulum, hapax legomenon) incapable of producing, barren
    • c. 1175, Robert William Burchfield, editor, The Ormulum, published 1878:
      He seȝȝde þatt Elysabæþ Wass wurrþenn þa wiþþ childe, Þatt ta wass swiþe winntredd wif, & kindelæs to tæmenn.
      He said that Elizabeth had become with child, though she was a very aged woman and fruitless to bear children.

References

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