different between worn vs helpless

English

Etymology

By analogy to past participles like torn from tear and sworn from swear.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /w??n/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /w??n/
• (rhotic, without the horse–hoarse merger) IPA^(key): /wo(?)?n/
• (non-rhotic, without the horse–hoarse merger) IPA^(key): /wo?n/
• Rhymes: -??(?)n
• Homophone: warn (accents with the horse-hoarse merger)

Adjective

worn (comparative more worn, superlative most worn)

1. damaged and shabby as a result of much use

Translations

Verb

worn

1. past participle of wear

Derived terms

• forworn
• outworn
• worn out

Anagrams

• Norw., rown

Middle English

Verb

worn

1. Alternative form of weren

Old English

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /worn/, [wor?n]

Noun

worn m

1. great many, multitude
2. crowd, swarm, band, flock

References

• Joseph Bosworth and T. Northcote Toller (1898) , “worn”, in An Anglo-Saxon Dictionary, 2nd edition, Oxford: Oxford University Press.

English

Etymology

From Middle English helples, from Old English *helpl?as (“helpless”) from Proto-Germanic *help?lausaz, equivalent to help +? -less. Compare Dutch hulpeloos (“helpless”), German hilflos (“helpless”), Swedish hjälplös (“helpless”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?h?lpl?s/
• Hyphenation: help?less

Adjective

helpless (comparative more helpless, superlative most helpless)

1. Unable to defend oneself.
   • 1995, Bryan Adams, Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?

     Then when you find yourself lyin' helpless in her arms

     You know you really love a woman

2. Lacking help; powerless.
3. Unable to act without help; needing help; feeble.
4. Uncontrollable.

   a helpless urge

5. (obsolete) From which there is no possibility of being saved.

   • For, while they fly that gulf's devouring jawes,
     They on the rock are rent and sunck in helplesse wawes.

Derived terms

• helplessly
• helplessness

Translations

Further reading

• helpless in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• helpless in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.