witless

The story

1. Proto-Germanic · inherited from*witjalausaz“witless”
2. Old English · inherited fromwitlēas“senseless; witless”
3. Middle English · inherited fromwitles
4. English todaywitless

From Middle English witles, from Old English witlēas (“senseless; witless”), from Proto-Germanic *witjalausaz (“witless”), equivalent to wit + -less. Cognate with Swedish vettlös (“senseless; witless; wild”), Icelandic vitlaus (“senseless; witless; foolish; mad”).