mid-14c., from joy + -less. Related: Joylessly; joylessness.

"joyless, without mirth, unhappy," late 14c., from mirth + -less. Related: Mirthlessly.

"free from dreams," c. 1600, from dream (n.) + -less. Old English dreamleas meant "joyless." Related: Dreamlessly; dreamlessness. Dreamful is recorded from 1550s.