Engineless

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Lacking an engine, so unable to propel itself by mechanical power
2. Describing a vehicle, craft or machine that has no motor or engine fitted to it
3. Without any engine, relying on other means such as gliding, sailing or towing to move

Etymology: "Engineless" is a plain compound: the adjective "engine" with the suffix "-less," meaning "without." The suffix traces back much further, to the Proto-Germanic "lausaz," meaning "free of" or "lacking," which passed into Old English as "-lēas." Old English also had "lēas" as a free-standing word meaning "false" or "devoid," so the idea of lacking something has been part of the language for well over a thousand years. "Engine" has a much longer and more winding path. It descends from the Proto-Indo-European root "lewh₁-," meaning "to cut" or "to weave," which fed into the Proto-Germanic "leusanąʼ, the source of "lose" and "loose" in other lineages. Through that same thread, the root's sense of skilful making and contriving became the basis for the English word. Put the two parts together and "engineless" describes something with no engine, a thing that moves or works without a motor or mechanical power source. The word is transparent in the way that "wireless" or "tireless" is: its meaning comes straight from the parts.

Synonyms: unpowered, motorless

Antonyms: powered, motorized, engined