careless
English
Etymology
From Middle English careles, from Old English carlēas (“careless, reckless, void of care, free from care, free”); equivalent to care + -less.
Pronunciation
- Lua error in Module:parameters at line 290: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "RP" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /ˈkɛəlɪs/, /ˈkɛələs/
- Lua error in Module:parameters at line 290: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "GA" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /ˈkɛɹləs/
Audio (US): (file) Audio: (file) - Rhymes: -ɛə(ɹ)ləs
Adjective
careless (comparative more careless, superlative most careless)
- Not concerned or worried (about). [from 11thc.]
- Template:RQ:Chmbrs YngrSt
- "He was here," observed Drina composedly, "and father was angry with him."
"What?" exclaimed Eileen. "When?"
"This morning, before father went downtown."
Both Selwyn and Lansing cut in coolly, dismissing the matter with a careless word or two; and coffee was served—cambric tea in Drina's case.
- "He was here," observed Drina composedly, "and father was angry with him."
- Template:RQ:Chmbrs YngrSt
- Not giving sufficient attention or thought, especially concerning the avoidance of harm or mistakes. [from 16thc.]
- 1991, Stephen Fry, The Liar, p. 49:
- I don't find the pose of careless youth charming and engaging any more than you find the pose of careworn age fascinating and eccentric, I should imagine.
- Jessica was so careless that she put her shorts on backwards.
- 1991, Stephen Fry, The Liar, p. 49:
- (archaic) Free from care; unworried, without anxiety. [from 11thc.]
- 1851 November 14, Herman Melville, chapter 27, in Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, 1st American edition, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers; London: Richard Bentley, →OCLC:
- Good-humored, easy, and careless, he presided over his whale-boat as if the most deadly encounter were but a dinner, and his crew all invited guests.
Synonyms
- See also Thesaurus:careless
Derived terms
Translations
not concerned or worried — see carefree
not giving sufficient attention or thought
- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Translations to be checked
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Anagrams
Categories:
- English terms inherited from Middle English
- English terms derived from Middle English
- English terms inherited from Old English
- English terms derived from Old English
- English terms suffixed with -less
- English 2-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English terms with audio links
- Rhymes:English/ɛə(ɹ)ləs
- English lemmas
- English adjectives
- English terms with usage examples
- English terms with archaic senses
- English basic words