Giftless

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Lacking any natural talent or special ability ; having no presents or offerings to bestow on others
2. Without innate skill or aptitude for something ; empty-handed, with no gifts to offer anyone
3. Short of natural ability in a particular area ; bringing or possessing no presents to hand over

Etymology: "Giftless" is about as plain as English compounds get: it joins "gift" with the suffix "-less", meaning "without". In Middle English the form appeared as "gifteles", "yifteles" and "yeftles", and the sense is simply "lacking a gift", that is, lacking a special natural talent or aptitude. The noun "gift" itself goes back to Old English and Old Norse roots meaning something given, which is why the word still carries a sense of something bestowed rather than earned. Taking away that bestowal, "giftless" describes someone who was given nothing in that line, with the idea that talent is a present from nature rather than a skill acquired by effort.

Synonyms: ungifted, untalented

Antonyms: gifted, talented