thewless, a. Now only Sc.
(ˈθjuːlɪs)
[f. thew n.1 + -less. Cf. thowless.]
† 1. Destitute of morals or virtue; vicious, immoral: = thowless 1. Obs.
| a 1327 Pol. Songs (Camden) 255 For lust hath leve, the lond is theweles. 1513 Douglas æneis iv. Prol. 163 Sic thewles lustis [sall returne] in bittir pane and wo. |
2. Without energy, inert, spiritless: = thowless 2.
| 1895 Crockett Men of Moss-Hags l, He was a quiet, thewless, pleasantly conforming man. 1896 Snowden Web of Weaver vi. 72, I seemed to stand thewless. 1900 C. Murray Hamewith 85 Like some puir dwinin' thewless wicht Wi' death in view. 1904 Dundee Advertiser 13 June 8/1 That the ‘thewless’ and ‘wastrel’ class be relegated to labour colonies there to work out their own salvation. |