Heartless
/ˈhɑːrt.ləs/noun
Lacking compassion, pity, or feeling.
Did you know?In older English and European thought, the heart was not just an organ but the center of emotion, courage, and moral character, so calling someone heartless was a direct attack on their inner essence.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ḱḗr
“Heart; the inner core of a living being.”
Old English
OE
heorte
“Heart; also the seat of feeling, courage, and mind.”
Old English
OE
-lēas
“Free from, lacking, without.”
Middle English
ME
herteles
“Without heart; lacking feeling or courage.”
Modern English
English
heartless
“Without compassion, pity, or warmth of feeling.”