Word of the Day - 06/08/26
gormless
/'ɡɔrmlɪs/(adj.): (British informal) lacking intelligence and vitality
He just stood there with a gormless stare, completely missing the point of the joke.
Word Origin
The word 'gormless' originated in Northern English dialect. It is a compound of 'gorm' (or 'gaum') and the suffix '-less'. 'Gorm' itself comes from Old Norse 'gaumr', meaning 'heed' or 'attention'. Thus, 'gormless' literally means 'without heed' or 'without attention', describing someone foolish or lacking sense.
The related word 'gaum' (meaning to understand or to pay attention) shares the same Old Norse root 'gaumr'. While not common in modern standard English, it persists in some regional dialects, carrying the original sense of 'attention' or 'discernment'.