trainless

English

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *dʰregʰ-der.?

Latin trahere

Vulgar Latin *tragīnāre

Old French traïnerder.

Old French trainder.

Middle English trayne

English train

Proto-Indo-European *lewh₁-

Proto-Indo-European *lewHs-der.

Proto-Germanic *leusaną

Proto-Germanic *lausaz

Proto-Germanic *-lausaz

Proto-West Germanic *-laus

Old English -lēas

Middle English -les

English -less

English trainless

From train + -less.

Adjective

trainless (not comparable)

1. Without a train (in various senses).
   • 1867, The Popular science review, Volume 6, page 82:

     At the radiant point itself, it was a subject of general remark, the meteors appeared trainless, and shone out for a moment like so many stars...

   • 1982, The Economist, Volume 284, page 43:

     Mr Ray Buckton, the Aslef boss, is as miserable as most trainless commuters, though most of the public sees him as the villain.

   • 2007, Gioia Diliberto, The collection, page 253:

     The silk and satin dresses—all sleeveless, trainless, and above the ankle—spun out a lightness, a feeling of romance and hope.

   • 2020 October 21, Dr Joseph Brennan, “From the main line and over the waves”, in Rail, page 61:

     There is a bittersweet finality to ending our tour at Burnham-on-Sea, and a distinct end-of-an-era feeling that comes with a visit to the now-trainless and steamer-less, quaint seaside town.

Derived terms

• trainlessness

Anagrams

• snarliest, sternalis