guardless, a.
(ˈgɑːdlɪs)
[f. guard n. + -less.]
1. Having no guard; undefended, unprotected; destitute of safeguards.
| c 1611 Chapman Iliad v. 146 His flocks left guardless. 1621 Lady M. Wroth Urania 67 Fortune and your power, hath left me guardlesse. 1692 South Serm. (1697) I. 324 A rich Land, guardless and undefended. 1715 M. Davies Athen. Brit. I. 241 Ever looking upon the self-guiding Spirit to be guardless and dangerous. 1725 Pope Odyss. xxii. 43 To your lust and spoil a guardless prey. 1819 Crabbe T. of Hall viii, Watching long the now confiding maid, He thought her guardless, and grew less afraid. |
2. Off one's guard; incautious.
| 1654 Gataker Disc. Apol. 2 His, as groundless, so still deserted, and least guardless, assertion. 1849 Lytton K. Arthur viii. v, The lone, unconscious, guardless modesty. |
3. Of a sword: Having no guard.
| 1882 O'Donovan Merv Oasis I. ii. 30 The Georgian..with..guardless Caucasian sabre. 1887 T. Stevens Around the World I. xvii. 404 They are armed with Circassian guardless swords and flint-lock horse-pistols. |