a. [f. prec. + -LESS.] Without excuse.
1. Of a person: a. Having no excuse to offer.
1548. Turner, Names of Herbes, 5. Because … that Poticaries shoulde be excuselesse … I have shewed in what places … the herbes growe.
1608. W. Sclater, Malachy (1650), 5. Then surely are we utterly excuseless.
1711. Peace in Divinity, 2. The Reprobate shall have such Grace only procur’d for him, as will render him excuseless.
† b. Not offering an excuse. Obs.
1640. Quarles, Enchirid., II. ii. Charity is a naked child … Naked, because excuselesse and simple.
2. Of things: Admitting of no excuse; inexcusable.
1611. W. Sclater, Key (1629), 96. Such an excuselesse sinne is vnthankefulnesse.
1654. R. Whitlock, Ζωοτομια, 301. Excuselesse is the idle mans nihil agendo, sleeping out his Lamp.
1667. Decay Chr. Piety, xvi. ¶ 3. 370. The voluntary enslaving my self is more excuseless.
1889. Eng. Illust. Mag., Sept., 894/2. An absolutely excuseless egotism.
