childless

the word 'childless' is a transparent compound formed within english from its native germanic elements. the root 'child' descends from old english 'cild', of germanic origin, whose precise pre-germanic ancestry is uncertain but has always denoted a young human being. the suffix '-less' originates from old english '-lēas', meaning 'devoid of', which itself derives from a germanic root signifying 'loose' or 'free from'. the literal construction 'devoid of a child' directly and logically yields the modern adjective describing a person who has not produced or does not have offspring.

Structure: child (young person) + less (without) child: from old english 'cild', meaning infant, young person. functions as the core noun root. less: from old english '-lēas', meaning devoid of, free from. functions as an adjective-forming suffix denoting absence.