How Do You Spell TEARLESS?

Pronunciation: [tˈi͡ələs] (IPA)

The spelling of the word "tearless" is a bit deceptive. Although its pronunciation, /ˈtɛrləs/, seems to suggest a connection to tears, the word actually means "not likely to cry." The root of the word, "tear," is pronounced /tɪər/ and refers to the act of tearing or ripping something. The -less suffix indicates the absence of something, so "tearless" literally means "without tears," in the sense of not shedding tears or being emotionally unaffected.

TEARLESS Meaning and Definition

1. Tearless, as an adjective, refers to the absence or inability to produce tears, the clear and watery fluid secreted by the lacrimal glands that serves to lubricate the eyes and cleanse them from irritants. It describes an individual or a condition characterized by the absence of tearing, making them unable to cry. Tearless can be both a physical and emotional state, describing either the absence of tears due to a physiological condition or a lack of emotional response leading to a lack of tears, even in situations that typically evoke strong emotions.

   From a physical perspective, tearlessness can be caused by various factors, such as congenital or acquired lacrimal gland dysfunction, certain medications, or specific medical conditions that inhibit the tear production process. It is often associated with symptoms like dry, itchy, or irritated eyes.

   In a figurative sense, tearless can describe an emotional state where an individual is incapable or unwilling to shed tears, even in situations that would typically provoke an emotional response. This could arise from emotional detachment, repression of feelings, mental health conditions, or personal coping mechanisms. While it is natural for people to cry in response to physical or emotional pain, tearlessness may suggest a level of emotional numbness or suppressed emotions.

   In summary, tearless pertains to the absence or inability to produce tears, either due to physical conditions affecting the lacrimal glands or a lack of emotional response leading to the absence of tears even in emotional situations.

2. Without tears: unfeeling.

   Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Common Misspellings for TEARLESS

• yearless
• 6earless
• 5earless
• twarless
• tdarless
• trarless
• t4arless
• t3arless
• tezrless
• tesrless
• tewrless
• teqrless
• teaeless
• teadless
• teafless
• teatless
• tea5less
• tea4less
• tearkess

Etymology of TEARLESS

The word "tearless" is formed by combining the prefix "tear-" and the suffix "-less".

The prefix "tear-" comes from the Old English word "tear", which means "a drop of clear, salty liquid that appears in the eyes". This word can be traced back to the Old High German word "zahar", meaning "tear".

The suffix "-less" is derived from the Old English suffix "-leas" or "-laes", which means "without" or "devoid of". This suffix has Germanic origins and is related to the Gothic "-lais" and the Dutch "-loos".

So, "tearless" combines the idea of being without tears or free from tears ("tear-") with the concept of lacking or devoid of something ("-less").