Gleamless

/ˈɡliːmlɪs/ adjective

Definition

Without gleam; lacking brightness, shine, or luster; dull or non-reflective.

Etymology

From 'gleam' plus the negating suffix -less, which means 'without' or 'lacking.' This productive suffix appears in hundreds of English words (homeless, careless, fearless).

Kelly Says

The -less suffix is fascinating because it transforms 'gleam' into its opposite—but unlike 'not gleaming,' which is passive, 'gleamless' makes dullness sound like an active property, which is why it's more common in poetic descriptions.

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