Noiseless comes from noise + -less; noise from Old French noise ('din, quarrel'), perhaps from Latin nausea ('seasickness') or noxia ('harm'). The suffix is part of the word's derivational shape, marking the final grammatical or semantic role while the base supplies the central meaning. As an adjective, it carries the sense "making or accompanied by no sound", with the older formation still helping explain the modern use. Relevant historical forms include Old French noise and Old English -less. Derivative forms include noiselessly, noiselessness; related words include noise, noisy, noisome.