бессловесный

Russian

Etymology

From бес- (bes-) +‎ словеса́ (slovesá) +‎ -ный (-nyj). Synchronically, based on словеса́ (slovesá, words, verbiage). Diachronically, словес- (sloves-) is the original stem of сло́во (slóvo, word), which was originally an s-stem. Compare слове́сный (slovésnyj).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): [bʲɪsːɫɐˈvʲesnɨj]

Adjective

бесслове́сный • (besslovésnyj)

  1. mute (unable to speak)
    бесслове́сное живо́тноеbesslovésnoje živótnojemute animal
  2. silent
    бесслове́сная рольbesslovésnaja rolʹsilent role
  3. wordless
  4. meek, humble, lowly (especially in being unwilling to express one's opinion)

Declension