Etymology

selfless

S1E1L1F4L1E1S1S1

Today it means: Having, exhibiting or motivated by no concern for oneself but for others; unselfish. Full definition →

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

  1. Proto-Indo-European*swé?
  2. Proto-Indo-European*selbʰ-
  3. Proto-Germanic*selbaz
  4. Old Englishself
  5. Middle Englishself
  6. Englishself
  7. Proto-Indo-European*lewh₁-
  8. Proto-Indo-European*lewHs-
  9. Proto-Germanic*leusaną
  10. Proto-Germanic*lausaz
  11. English todayselfless

From self + -less.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.