English word ruthless comes from a combination of English ruth (an archaic term for sorrow for the misery of another; pity) and -less (lacking/without something)
| Dictionary entry | Language | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| ruth | English (eng) | (archaic) Sorrow for the misery of another; pity, compassion; mercy. [from 13th c.]. (now, _, rare) Repentance; regret; remorse. [from 13th c.]. (obsolete) Something which causes regret or sorrow; a pitiful sight. [13th-17th c.]. (obsolete) Sorrow; misery; distress. [...] |
| -less | English (eng) | Lacking (something); without (something). |
| ruthless | English (eng) | Without pity or compassion; cruel, pitiless. |