toothless

toothless
toothless (adj.) late 14c., in literal sense, from TOOTH (Cf. tooth) + -LESS (Cf. -less). Figurative sense of "dull" is recorded from 1590s; that of "lacking enforcement powers" is first recorded 1961. Related: Toothlessly; toothlessness.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Toothless — Tooth less, a. Having no teeth. Cowper. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • toothless — ► ADJECTIVE 1) having no teeth. 2) lacking genuine force or effectiveness. DERIVATIVES toothlessly adverb toothlessness noun …   English terms dictionary

  • toothless — tooth|less [ˈtu:θləs] adj 1.) someone who is toothless has no teeth ▪ a toothless old woman a toothless smile/grin ▪ He gave us a toothless grin. 2.) an organization that is toothless has no power to make people obey its rules ▪ Does the agency… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • Toothless — Filmdaten Deutscher Titel: Die Zahnfee Originaltitel: Toothless Produktionsland: USA Erscheinungsjahr: 1997 Länge: 82 Minuten Originalsprache: Englisch …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • toothless — adjective a) Having no teeth. a toothless old man b) Weak, having no capability of enforcing something. The treaty was toothless in combatting climate change. Syn: edentulous See Also: toothy, vo …   Wiktionary

  • toothless — [[t]tu͟ːθləs[/t]] 1) ADJ: usu ADJ n You use toothless to describe a person or their smile when they have no teeth. 2) ADJ GRADED If you describe something such as an official group or a law as toothless, you mean it has no real power and is not… …   English dictionary

  • toothless — adjective 1 having no teeth: a toothless smile 2 a law that is toothless has no power to make someone obey it: Without legal sanctions it is toothless …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • toothless — /ˈtuθləs/ (say toohthluhs) adjective 1. having no teeth: a toothless old man; toothless gums. 2. having no real power or effectiveness: toothless legislation …  

  • toothless — adjective 1. lacking teeth most birds are toothless a toothless old crone • Ant: ↑toothed • Similar to: ↑edental, ↑edentate, ↑edentulate, ↑edentulous …   Useful english dictionary

  • toothless — adjective Date: 14th century 1. having no teeth 2. a. lacking in sharpness or bite < spoke in toothless generalities Arthur Hepner > b. lacking in means of enforcement or coercion ; ineffectual …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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