GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English
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Waste, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Wasted; p. pr. & vb. n. Wasting.] [OE. wasten, OF. waster, guaster, gaster, F. gâter to spoil, L. vastare to devastate, to lay waste, fr. vastus waste, desert, uncultivated, ravaged, vast, but influenced by a kindred German word; cf. OHG. wuosten, G. wüsten, AS. wēstan. See Waste, a.]
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1. To bring to ruin; to devastate; to desolate; to destroy.
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Thou barren ground, whom winter's wrath hath wasted,
Art made a mirror to behold my plight. Spenser.
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The Tiber
Insults our walls, and wastes our fruitful grounds. Dryden.
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2. To wear away by degrees; to impair gradually; to diminish by constant loss; to use up; to consume; to spend; to wear out.
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Until your carcasses be wasted in the wilderness. Num. xiv. 33.
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O, were I able
To waste it all myself, and leave ye none! Milton.
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Here condemned
To waste eternal days in woe and pain. Milton.
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Wasted by such a course of life, the infirmities of age daily grew on him. Robertson.
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3. To spend unnecessarily or carelessly; to employ prodigally; to expend without valuable result; to apply to useless purposes; to lavish vainly; to squander; to cause to be lost; to destroy by scattering or injury.
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The younger son gathered all together, and . . . wasted his substance with riotous living. Luke xv. 13.
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Full many a flower is born to blush unseen,
And waste its sweetness on the desert air. Gray.
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4. (Law) To damage, impair, or injure, as an estate, voluntarily, or by suffering the buildings, fences, etc., to go to decay.
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Syn. -- To squander; dissipate; lavish; desolate.
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