earless

the word "earless" is a transparent compound formed within english from its native germanic elements. the first element, "ear," derives from old english "ēare," which has cognates across the germanic languages and traces back to the proto-indo-european root h₂ṓws-, meaning "ear." the suffix "-less" originates from old english "-lēas," meaning "devoid of, free from," itself from a root meaning "to lose." the literal combination, "without ears," is straightforward, describing a physical absence. the figurative sense of "heedless" or "not listening" emerged naturally in english by the 16th century, applying the physical concept to a metaphorical lack of attention or receptiveness, demonstrating a common semantic shift from the concrete to the abstract.

Structure: ear (organ of hearing) + less (without) ear (old english, noun, the organ of hearing) + less (old english, adjective-forming suffix, meaning "without")