Sapless

//ˈsæpləs// adj

adj ·Moderate ·College level

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    Lacking in sap.

    "[…] Thou For whose path the Atlantic’s level powers Cleave themselves into chasms, while far below The sea-blooms and the oozy woods which wear The sapless foliage of the ocean, know Thy voice, and suddenly grow grey with fear, And tremble to despoil themselves: O, hear!"

  2. 2
    Lacking vivacity. figuratively

    "O young John Talbot! I did send for thee To tutor thee in stratagems of war, That Talbot’s name might be in thee revived When sapless age and weak unable limbs Should bring thy father to his drooping chair."

Adjective
  1. 1
    destitute of sap and other vital juices; dry wordnet
  2. 2
    lacking bodily or muscular strength or vitality wordnet

Example

More examples

"[…] Thou For whose path the Atlantic’s level powers Cleave themselves into chasms, while far below The sea-blooms and the oozy woods which wear The sapless foliage of the ocean, know Thy voice, and suddenly grow grey with fear, And tremble to despoil themselves: O, hear!"

Etymology

From sap + -less.

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.