a. [f. FORD sb. or v. + -LESS.] Without a ford; that cannot be forded.

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a. 1649.  Drumm. of Hawth., Hist. Jas. IV., Wks. (1711), 63. The Dye thrown, before they could descend from the far Mountains, and cross the Fordless Rivers. Ibid., 75. The Water of Till running deep and Fordless upon the right Hand, and but passable at the Bridge.

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1808.  J. Barlow, The Columbiad, IV. 293.

        Fly with the faithful youth, his steps to guide,
Pierce the known thicket, breast the fordless tide,
Illude the scout, avoid the ambush’d line,
And lead him safely to his friends and thine.

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1879.  Mallock, Life Worth Liv., 133. Between our human nature and the nature they desiderate there is a deep and fordless river, over which they can throw no bridge, and all their talk supposes that we shall be able to fly or wade across it, or else that it will dry up of itself.

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