Sackless

Alternative forms

• saikless Scottish

Origin

From Middle English sakles, sacless ("innocent"), from Old English saclēas ("free from charge, innocent, safe"), from Proto-Germanic *sakalausaz ("free from accusation"), equivalent to sake + -less. Cognate with Danish sagesløs ("blameless"), Swedish saklös ("blamesless"), Icelandic saklaus ("innocent"). More at sake, -less.

Full definition of sackless

Adjective

1. (provincial, Northern England, poetic or archaic) Blameless, guiltless, innocent.
• 1838: Walter Scott, The Poetical Works of Sir Walter Scott: with the author's introductions and notes... And where that sackless knight lies slain,The candles will burn bright.
• 1900: Eiríkur Magnússon, William Morris, The Story of Grettir the Strong... and how Thorir of Garth would not that Grettir should be made sackless.

Usage notes

Though otherwise dated, the word sackless is still used in translations of the Old Norse
Old Icelandic sagas and related contexts.