thewless

[ thyoo-lis ]

adjective

1. cowardly; timid.

Word History and Origins

Origin of thewless¹

First recorded in 1300–50, thewless is from the Middle English word theweles. See thew, -less

Example Sentences

He was a quiet, thewless, pleasantly conforming man, that was willing to let his hearing of the curates keep his head.

From Project Gutenberg

THEWLESS, THOULESS, THIEVLESS, adj. unprofitable; useless; feeble.

From Project Gutenberg

I declare I grow rotten and thewless in this dull Plassenburg, where they dare not stick so much as a knife in one another, all for fear of Karl Miller's Son!

From Project Gutenberg

A thrust of thy sword is as thewless As thou, silly stirrer of battle.

From Project Gutenberg

As he strode past Mr Bloom's dental windows the sway of his dustcoat brushed rudely from its angle a slender tapping cane and swept onwards, having buffeted a thewless body.

From Project Gutenberg