thewlessadj.
/ˈθjuːləs/, U.S. /ˈθ(j)uləs/, Scottish English /ˈθjuləs/ Now only Scottish.† 1. Destitute of morals or virtue; vicious, immoral: = thowless adj. 1. Obsolete.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > goodness and badness > wrongdoing > corruption > [adjective]
sickc960
foulOE
unwholec1000
thewlessa1327
corrupt1340
viciousc1340
unwholesomec1374
infecta1387
rustyc1390
unsound?a1400
rottenc1400
rotten-heartedc1405
cankereda1450
infectedc1449
wasted1483
depravate?1520
poisoned1529
deformed1555
poisonous1555
reprobate1557
corrupted1563
prave1564
base-minded1573
tainted1577
Gomorrhean1581
vice-like1589
depraved1593
debauched1598
deboshedc1598
tarish1601
sunk1602
speckled1603
deboist1604
diseased1608
ulcerous1611
vitial1614
debauchc1616
deboise1632
pravous1653
depravea1711
unhealthy1821
scrofulous1842
septic1914
society > morality > moral evil > evil nature or character > [adjective]
illa1200
thewlessa1327
unrightyc1350
wronga1382
noughtc1400
unhonestc1422
ill-disposedc1460
naughtyc1460
thowless1487
misaffectionate1533
naught1550
ill-conditioned1614
uncharactered1841
a1327 Pol. Songs (Camden) 255 For lust hath leve, the lond is theweles.
1513 G. Douglas in tr. Virgil Æneid iv. Prol. 163 Sic thewles lustis [sall returne] in bittir pane and wo.
2. Without energy, inert, spiritless: = thowless adj. 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > inaction > disinclination to act or listlessness > [adjective] > lacking vigour or energy
nesheOE
lustlessc1325
dowfa1522
unlikely1578
thowless1721
sapless1864
anergic1874
entropic1893
thewless1895
slowed-down1905
slowed-up1912
greyed-out1946
1895 S. R. Crockett Men of Moss-hags l He was a quiet, thewless, pleasantly conforming man.
1896 J. K. Snowden Web of Old Weaver vi. 72 I seemed to stand thewless.
1900 C. Murray Hamewith 85 Like some puir dwinin' thewless wicht Wi' death in view.
1904 Dundee Advertiser 13 June 8/1 That the ‘thewless’ and ‘wastrel’ class be relegated to labour colonies there to work out their own salvation.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.a1327