was wotd|2007|January|7
English
Alternative spellings
gaumless, gawmless
Etymology
From English dialectal gorm + suffix -less. Originally from Old Germanic Appendix:Proto-Old Germanic *gaum-|*gaum-, �understand�.
The �r� found in this spelling is a vowel-lengthening device common in non-rhotic dialects of English
Pronunciation
italbrac|RP IPA|/�g��ml�s/
audio|en-us-gormless.ogg|Audio (US)
Adjective
en-adj
- context|chiefly|UK|of a person Lacking intelligence, sense or discernment, often implying lack of capacity of will to remedy the condition.
- UK inexperienced|Inexperienced, naïve, innocent to the point of foolishness.
Quotations
1845, w:Emily Brontë|Emily Brontë, s:Wuthering Heights|Wuthering Heights, ch xxi
1988, w:Roald Dahl|Roald Dahl, s:Matilda|Matilda, p4
1990, w:Terry Pratchett|Terry Pratchett, w:Moving Pictures (novel)|Moving Pictures, p171
RQ:Potter Deathly Hallows, p125
Synonyms
italbrac|lacking intelligence: dull, slow, stupid
italbrac|inexperienced: inexperienced, naive
Translations
trans-top|lacking intelligence
Dutch: t|nl|onnozel, t|nl|onhandig
trans-mid
trans-bottom
trans-top|naive
Dutch: t-|nl|naïef, t|nl|onnozel
trans-mid
trans-bottom
de:gormless
fi:gormless
vi:gormless
zh:gormless
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