helpless

Etymology

From Middle English helples, from Old English *helplēas (“helpless”), equivalent to help +‎ -less. Compare Dutch hulpeloos (“helpless”), German hilflos (“helpless”), Swedish hjälplös (“helpless”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈhɛlplɪs/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Hyphenation: help‧less

Adjective

helpless (comparative more helpless, superlative most helpless)

1. Unable to defend oneself.
   • 1995, Bryan Adams, Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?

     Then when you find yourself lyin' helpless in her arms

     You know you really love a woman

2. Unable to act without help.
3. Uncontrollable.

   a helpless urge

4. (obsolete) From which there is no possibility of being saved.
   • Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene

     For, while they fly that gulf's devouring jawes,
     They on the rock are rent and sunck in helplesse wawes.