Meaning

adjective lacking in or deprived of strength or power

adjective unable to function; without help

adjective unable to manage independently

originFrom Middle English helples, from Old English *helplēas (“helpless”) from Proto-Germanic *helpōlausaz, equivalent to help + -less. Compare Dutch hulpeloos (“helpless”), German hilflos (“helpless”), Danish hjælpeløs (“helpless”) and Swedish hjälplös (“helpless”).

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0