Bractless

/ˈbræktləs/ adjective

Definition

Lacking bracts; without bract-like structures or modified leaves near the flower or flowering stem.

Etymology

From 'bract' plus the English suffix '-less' (from Old English '-leas', meaning 'without' or 'lacking'). The '-less' suffix has been productive in English for over a thousand years.

Kelly Says

The '-less' suffix is one of the most satisfying in English—it lets us negate almost any noun to create vivid descriptors. 'Bractless' is a botanical term, but the same logic gives us 'fearless,' 'timeless,' and 'endless,' which have become some of our most poetic words.

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