stereles

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Middle English

[edit]

Alternative forms

[edit]

Etymology

[edit]

Inherited from Old English stēorlēas; by surface analysis, stere (rudder, control) +‎ -les (-less).

Pronunciation

[edit]
  • IPA(key): /ˈsteːr(ə)lɛːs/, /ˈsteːr(ə)lɛs/

Adjective

[edit]

stereles

  1. (uncommon, nautical, often figurative) Having no rudder; uncontrolled or ungoverned.
    • late 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer, The Man of Law's Tale, The Canterbury Tales, line 438-441:
      And Custance han they take anon, foot-hoot,
      And in a shippe al sterelees, god woot,
      They han hir set, and bidde hir lerne sayle
      Out of Surrye agaynward to Itayle.
      And Custance have they taken right then, immediately,
      And in a ship entirely without a rudder, God knows,
      They have set her, and told her to learn to sail
      Out of Syria back to Italy.

Descendants

[edit]
  • English: steerless

Further reading

[edit]