The word "thankless" is spelled with a "th" sound, represented in IPA phonetic transcription as /θ/. This sound is made by placing the tip of your tongue behind your top front teeth and blowing air out. The word also contains the short "a" sound, represented as /æ/, which is made by opening your mouth wide and lowering your tongue. The last syllable is pronounced with a soft "s" sound, represented as /s/, and the stress is on the first syllable: /ˈθæŋkləs/.
Thankless is an adjective that describes something or someone characterized by a lack of gratitude or appreciation. When referring to a task or job, it implies that it is burdensome or unappreciated, often despite its importance or difficulty. The term can also describe a person who fails to acknowledge or express gratitude for the efforts, favors, or kindness shown to them.
A thankless task, for instance, is one that requires considerable effort or sacrifice but goes unrecognized or unacknowledged. It involves doing something for the benefit of others, without receiving the gratitude or recognition that one might expect in return. These tasks are often considered thankless due to the ingratitude or lack of appreciation shown by those benefiting from the efforts.
Furthermore, a thankless person is commonly regarded as someone who habitually fails to express genuine appreciation or acknowledge the actions or favors others have done for them. They may overlook acts of kindness or take them for granted, neglecting to offer a simple thank you. Such individuals may inadvertently contribute to an atmosphere of ungratefulness and can be perceived as self-centered or unappreciative.
In summary, thankless refers to situations or individuals that lack gratitude or appreciation. It encompasses tasks or jobs that go unrecognized or unacknowledged, as well as people who fail to express gratitude or acknowledge the efforts and favors given to them.
Ungrateful; unthankful.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "thankless" originated from Old English with the term "þancleás", which is a combination of the words "þanc" meaning "thanks" and "leás" meaning "free from". Over time, "þancleás" transformed into "thancles" in Middle English, and eventually evolved into "thankless" in Modern English. The suffix "-less" in "thankless" indicates the absence or lack of something, in this case, the absence of thanks or appreciation.