keyless

The word is a modern English compound formed by combining the noun "key," a term of obscure Old English origin, with the adjectival suffix "-less," which descends from the Old English -lēas meaning "devoid of." This suffix is related to the verb "to lose" and originally conveyed a sense of separation or absence. The formation follows a perfectly transparent and productive pattern in English, where "-less" is appended to a noun to create an adjective describing the lack of that noun. Thus, "keyless" literally means "without a key," a concept that has gained significant relevance with the advent of electronic locking and ignition systems.

Structure: key (device for a lock) + less (without) - key: From Old English cǣg, of unknown origin. Functions as the base noun denoting a tool for operating a lock. - less: From Old English -lēas, meaning "devoid of, free from". Functions as a suffix forming adjectives meaning "without".