a. Also 1 sorh-, sorʓleas, 5 sorweles, 6 sorowlesse. [f. SORROW sb. + -LESS. Cf. MDu. sorghelos (Du. zorgeloos), MHG. sorgelôs (G. sorglos, sorgenlos), ON. sorg(a)lauss (Sw. sorglös, Da. sorgløs).] Free from sorrow.
Beowulf, 1672. Þæt þu on Heorote most sorhleas swefan mid þinra secga ʓedryht.
a. 900. Cynewulf, Crist, 346. Þær we sorʓlease siþþan motan wuniʓan in wuldre.
c. 1000. Ags. Gosp., Matt. xxviii. 14. We lærað hyne, & ʓedoð eow sorhlease.
1412–20. Lydg., Chron. Troy, IV. 3695. Ȝit can þei feyne and salte teris fynde,… And sorweles mornen and compleyne.
1545. Joye, Exp. Dan. v. H viij. Taking theyr pleasures in banketting … and playinge so sorowlesse.
1658. Hewyt, Serm., Repentance & Conv., 23. If their repentance be sorrowless, ’twill prove but a sorry one.
1881. J. Russell, Haigs, xiii. 390. The mourner and the mourned are equally silent and sorrowless.
