Lacking gusto or enthusiasm; performed without energy or passion.
From 'gusto' (Spanish/Italian origin meaning taste or relish) + English suffix '-less' meaning without. The word evolved in English to mean lacking the enthusiastic enjoyment that 'gusto' implies.
This word perfectly captures the melancholy of doing something without heart—like eating your favorite food when you're too sad to enjoy it. It's the opposite of the vibrant energy that made 'gusto' such a lively word across romance languages.
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