Etymology

ruthless

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Today it means: Without pity or compassion; cruel, pitiless. Full definition →

Middle English reuþeles ← Proto-Germanic *lausaz ← Proto-Indo-European *lewHs-
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The story

  1. Proto-Germanic*hrewwaną
  2. Proto-West Germanic*hreuwan
  3. Proto-West Germanic*hreuwu
  4. Old Englishhrēow
  5. Middle Englishrewe
  6. Old Norsehrygðinflu.
  7. Middle Englishreuþe
  8. Proto-Indo-European*lewh₁-
  9. Proto-Indo-European*lewHs-
  10. Proto-Germanic*leusaną
  11. Proto-Germanic*lausaz
  12. Middle Englishreuþeles
  13. English todayruthless

From Middle English reuþeles; equivalent to ruth + -less.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.