sackless
English
Alternative forms
- saikless (Scottish)
Etymology
From Middle English sakles, sacless (“innocent”), from Old English saclēas (“free from charge, innocent, safe”), from Proto-Germanic *sakalausaz (“free from accusation”), equivalent to sake + -less. Cognate with Danish sagesløs (“blameless”), Swedish saklös (“blamesless”), Icelandic saklaus (“innocent”), Faroese sakleysur (“unoffending, innocent”). More at sake, -less.
Adjective
sackless (comparative more sackless, superlative most sackless)
- (provincial, Northern England, poetic or archaic) Blameless, guiltless, innocent.
- 1838, Walter Scott, The Poetical Works of Sir Walter Scott: with the author's introductions and notes, page 196:
- […] And where that sackless knight lies slain, […]
The candles will burn bright.
- 1900, Eiríkur Magnússon, William Morris, The Story of Grettir the Strong, page 149:
- […] and how Thorir of Garth would not that Grettir should be made sackless.
Usage notes
Though otherwise dated, the word sackless is still used in translations of the Old Norse / Old Icelandic sagas and related contexts.
References
- Northumberland Words, Oliver Heslop and Harry Haldane, 1894.
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