comfortless

English

Etymology

comfort + -less

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈkʌm.fət.ləs/
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈkʌm.fɚt.ləs/

Adjective

comfortless (comparative more comfortless, superlative most comfortless)

  1. (of a person) Deprived of comfort; uncomforted.
    • 1611, King James Version of the Bible, John 14:18,
      I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
    • c. 1612, William Shakespeare and John Fletcher, Henry VIII, Act II, Scene 3,
      The queen is comfortless, and we forgetful
      In our long absence: pray, do not deliver
      What here you've heard to her.
    • 1862, Christina Rossetti, “Mirage” in Goblin Market and other Poems,
      The hope I dreamed of was a dream,
      Was but a dream; and now I wake,
      Exceeding comfortless, and worn, and old,
      For a dream's sake.
  2. (of a thing) Offering no comfort; uncomforting.
    • c. 1693, William Shakespeare, Titus Andronicus, Act III, Scene 1,
      Alas, poor heart, that kiss is comfortless
      As frozen water to a starved snake.
    • 1818, Mary Shelley, Frankenstein, Chapter V,
      I did not dare return to the apartment which I inhabited, but felt impelled to hurry on, although drenched by the rain which poured from a black and comfortless sky.
    • 1941, Emily Carr, Klee Wyck, Chapter 4,
      In comfortless, damp blankets we got through the night.
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