motherless

== English == === Etymology === From Middle English moderles, from Old English mōdorlēas, from Proto-Germanic *mōdērlausaz, equivalent to mother +‎ -less. Cognate with Saterland Frisian muurloos (“motherless”), Dutch moederloos (“motherless”), German mutterlos (“motherless”), Danish moderløs (“motherless”), Swedish moderlös (“motherless”), Icelandic móðurlaus (“motherless”). === Pronunciation === === Adjective === motherless (not comparable) Without a (living) mother. Without mother (mucilaginous substance in fermenting liquid). (figurative) Without a history or predecessor. ==== Hypernyms ==== parentless ==== Coordinate terms ==== fatherless ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Adverb === motherless (comparative more motherless, superlative most motherless) (South Africa, Australia, slang) very, completely (especially in reference to drunkenness) === See also === half orphan orphan