squandern.
/ˈskwɒndə/, U.S. /ˈskwɑndər/ The act of squandering; extravagant expenditure; an instance of this. Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > relinquishing > squandering or prodigality > [noun] > instance of
sumptuosities1587
profuseness1656
squander1709
splurge1928
the mind > possession > relinquishing > squandering or prodigality > [noun]
overflowingnessOE
wastinga1300
prodigality1340
misdispendingc1390
misspendingc1390
fool-largessec1405
wantonness1448
fool-largec1450
dilapidationc1460
lavish1483
consuminga1538
profusion1545
sumptuosity1550
wastefulness1551
lashing1556
lavishing1574
profuseness1584
lavishness1590
misspense1591
wastening1604
outlashing1611
duck and drake1614
largesse1614
lavishment1630
squandering1632
prodigence1634
dissipation1639
wastry1645
profusiveness1655
high living1656
nepotation1656
extravagancy1666
extravagance1727
profligacy1792
squander1806
profligateness1817
wastrife1818
spendthriftism1862
wasterfulness1884
high-rolling1890
prodigalism1896
spendthriftiness1950
squanderbugging1966
1709 D. Manley Secret Mem. 27 Will he one Day set it all at Stake upon a Royal Cast, or an Imperial Squander? Or descend to his Grave, choak'd with greediness of Gain?
1709 D. Manley Secret Mem. IV. 136 He..did not care to make an ostentatious Squander of his own Person and Valour, and therefore would be manag'd.
1806 Inq. St. Nation (Todd) 92 The waste of our resources, and the squander of our opportunities.
1859 K. Cornwallis Panorama New World I. 27 He is a prodigal paymaster, and in the school of squander, completely takes the shine out of the ‘Britishers’.
1893 F. F. Moore Gray Eye or So II. 118 There's not much of a squander in the deal when I get value for it.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1915; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
squanderv.
/ˈskwɒndə/, U.S. /ˈskwɑndər/ 1. transitive. In past participle.
a. Of things: To be scattered over a comparatively wide surface or area.
ΚΠ
1600 W. Shakespeare Merchant of Venice i. iii. 21 Hee hath a third [ship] at Mexico, a fourth for England, and other ventures he hath squandred abroade. View more context for this quotation
1645 J. Howell Epistolæ Ho-elianæ vi. xiv. 24 The present condition of the Jews,..now grown contemptible, and strangely squander'd up and down the World.
1647 J. Howell New Vol. of Lett. 38 In many thousand Islands that lye squandred in the vast Ocean.
1847 J. O. Halliwell Dict. Archaic & Provinc. Words II. (at cited word) ‘His family are all grown up, and squandered about the country,’ i.e. settled in different places.
1882 C. Elton Orig. Eng. Hist. ix. 223 The fallen timber obstructed the streams, the rivers were squandered in the reedy morasses.
b. Brought to disintegration or dissolution.
ΚΠ
1610 tr. Gaultier's Rodomontados D j b She shall no sooner be falne downe there, but she shall be squandered into dust & pow[d]er.
1653 H. More Antidote against Atheisme ii. vii. §4 And so they would rot upon the Ground before they be spent, or be squander'd away in a moment of Time.
2.
a. To drive off in various directions; to cause to scatter or disperse.
ΘΚΠ
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > causing to go away > command to go away [verb (transitive)] > drive away > drive away in all directions
to-driveOE
to-dreveOE
to-skairc1175
scattera1300
skaila1300
disparplea1325
sheda1325
discatterc1330
to-scattera1382
sparple1382
to-rusha1387
to-sparplea1387
deperpeyla1400
rat1402
sever1412
to-ratc1440
disparklec1449
scarkle1450
sparklea1470
disperse1503
shudderc1540
sparse1549
dissipate?c1550
to wap sindry1563
squander1622
rout1641
to feeze about1689
1622 R. Sanderson Two Serm. Boston ii. 91 To bend his forces..against the strongest troupes of the enemy; and to squander, and breake thorow the thickest rankes.
1667 J. Dryden Annus Mirabilis 1666 lxvii. 18 They charge, re-charge, and all along the Sea They drive, and squander the huge Belgian Fleet.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Æneis ii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 251 The Troops we squander'd first, again appear From sev'ral Quarters, and enclose the Rear.
1818 R. Wilbraham Attempt Gloss. Cheshire (at cited word) To squander a covey of partridges.
1891 J. C. Atkinson Last of Giant-killers 96 The stones that had been laid in course, had been squandered about anyhow.
b. Mining. (See quot. 1883.)
ΚΠ
1883 W. S. Gresley Gloss. Terms Coal Mining 233 Squander, to beat or kill (extinguish) an underground fire.
3. absolute.1714 J. Swift Change in Queen's Ministry in Wks. (1765) VIII. i. 23 He was grown needy by squandering upon his vices.1863 ‘G. Eliot’ Romola I. ix. 161 To squander with one hand till they have been fain to beg with the other.
a. To spend (money, goods, etc.) recklessly, prodigally, or lavishly; to expend extravagantly, profusely, or wastefully. Also const. on.The most common usage. Frequently since 1810.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > relinquishing > squandering or prodigality > squander or be prodigal [verb (intransitive)]
waste1390
lasha1560
squander1593
to play the prodigal1602
outlash1611
wanton1646
to light (also burn) the candle at both ends1736
extravagate1871
the mind > possession > relinquishing > squandering or prodigality > squander [verb (transitive)]
forspendc893
scatter1154
dispend1303
waste1340
misspendc1390
miswastec1400
consumec1425
waste1474
profund1527
lasha1535
prodige1538
lavish1542
to play away1562
riot1566
embezzle1578
dilapidate1590
squander1593
confound1598
to make ducks and drakes of or withc1600
prodigalize1611
profuse1611
squander1611
paddle1616
bezzle1617
to run out of ——1622
to piss away1628
prodigal1628
decoct1629
to bangle (away)1632
debauch1632
deboise1632
to fribble away1633
to fool out1635
to run outa1640
to fiddle away1667
slattera1681
dissipate1682
to play off1693
duck-and-drake1700
liquidate1702
sparkle away1703
waster1821
befool1861
to frivol away1866
to play (at) duck and drake with1872
to fling away1873
mislive1887
slather1904
mucker1928
profligate1938
peter1956
spaff2002
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > uselessness > misuse > [verb (transitive)] > waste
spilla1000
scatter1154
aspilla1250
rospa1325
waste1340
spend1390
consumec1425
waste1474
miswenda1500
forsumea1510
to cast away1530
to throw away1561
embezzle1578
squander1593
palter1595
profuse1611
squander1611
ravel1614
sport1622
to fool away1628
to stream out1628
to fribble away1633
sweal1655
frisk1665
to fiddle away1667
wantonize1673
slattera1681
swattle1681
drivel1686
swatter1690
to muddle away1707
squander1717
sot1746
slattern1747
meisle1808
fritter1820
waster1821
slobber1837
to cut to waste1863
fringe1863
potter1883
putter1911
profligate1938
to piddle away1942
haemorrhage1978
spaff2002
1593 T. Nashe Christs Teares 45 Fooles shall squander in an houre, all the auarice of their ambitious wise Auncesters.
1623 H. Cockeram Eng. Dict. i Squander, lauishly to consume ones estate.
1744 J. Thomson Summer in Seasons (new ed.) 122 The cruel Wretch, Who..has squander'd vile, Upon his scoundrel Train, what might have chear'd A drooping Family of modest Worth.
1783 E. Burke in 9th Rep. Commons Sel Comm. Bengal, Bahar, & Orissa iii. 36 The cultivators..would squander Part of the Money, and not be able to complete their Engagements to the Full.
1849 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. I. iii. 323 Of the great sums..part had been embezzled by cunning politicians, and part squandered on buffoons and foreign courtesans.
1881 W. G. Marshall Through Amer. i. 10 Millions of dollars..have been squandered over the work.
b. With away.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > relinquishing > squandering or prodigality > squander [verb (transitive)]
forspendc893
scatter1154
dispend1303
waste1340
misspendc1390
miswastec1400
consumec1425
waste1474
profund1527
lasha1535
prodige1538
lavish1542
to play away1562
riot1566
embezzle1578
dilapidate1590
squander1593
confound1598
to make ducks and drakes of or withc1600
prodigalize1611
profuse1611
squander1611
paddle1616
bezzle1617
to run out of ——1622
to piss away1628
prodigal1628
decoct1629
to bangle (away)1632
debauch1632
deboise1632
to fribble away1633
to fool out1635
to run outa1640
to fiddle away1667
slattera1681
dissipate1682
to play off1693
duck-and-drake1700
liquidate1702
sparkle away1703
waster1821
befool1861
to frivol away1866
to play (at) duck and drake with1872
to fling away1873
mislive1887
slather1904
mucker1928
profligate1938
peter1956
spaff2002
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > uselessness > misuse > [verb (transitive)] > waste
spilla1000
scatter1154
aspilla1250
rospa1325
waste1340
spend1390
consumec1425
waste1474
miswenda1500
forsumea1510
to cast away1530
to throw away1561
embezzle1578
squander1593
palter1595
profuse1611
squander1611
ravel1614
sport1622
to fool away1628
to stream out1628
to fribble away1633
sweal1655
frisk1665
to fiddle away1667
wantonize1673
slattera1681
swattle1681
drivel1686
swatter1690
to muddle away1707
squander1717
sot1746
slattern1747
meisle1808
fritter1820
waster1821
slobber1837
to cut to waste1863
fringe1863
potter1883
putter1911
profligate1938
to piddle away1942
haemorrhage1978
spaff2002
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Fricasser,..to spend, or squander all away.
1661 F. P. Verney & M. M. Verney Mem. Verney Family 17th Cent. (1907) II. 170 I have noe great mind to squander away £100.
1687 A. Lovell tr. J. de Thévenot Trav. into Levant i. 264 Don Philippo..soon squandered away two or three Thousand Crowns, that were lent him.
a1763 W. King Polit. & Lit. Anecd. (1819) 17 The public money is squandered away in pensions.
1789 J. Williams Nat. Hist. Mineral Kingdom I. 204 Our schemes..will..squander away the public money upon unnecessary projects.
1855 T. B. Macaulay Hist. Eng. IV. xx. 489 Neale,..after squandering away two fortunes, had been glad to become groom porter at the palace.
1885 M. E. Braddon Wyllard's Weird I. i. 19 He squandered every shilling of his small patrimony away.
4. To spend or employ (time) wastefully; to waste. Also with away.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > spending time > spend time or allow time to pass [verb (transitive)] > waste time
leese?c1225
losea1340
defer1382
wastea1400
slip1435
consumea1500
superexpend1513
slow?1522
sloth1523
to fode forth1525
slack1548
dree1584
sleuth1584
confound1598
spenda1604
to fret out1608
to spin out1608
misplace1609
spend1614
tavern1628
devast1632
to drill away, on, outa1656
dulla1682
to dally away1685
squander1693
to linger awaya1704
dangle1727
dawdle1768
slim1812
diddle1826
to run out the clock1957
1693 E. Stillingfleet Serm. (1698) III. x. 409 How much time is squandred away in Vanity and Folly?
a1721 M. Prior Vicar of Bray & Sir T. More 232 Alas how we squander away our Days without doing our Duty.
1757 Ld. Chesterfield Let. 26 Oct. (1932) (modernized text) V. 2253 Have I employed my time, or have I squandered it?
1843 G. Borrow Bible in Spain I. i. 14 They considered the time occupied in learning as so much squandered away.
1871 B. Taylor tr. J. W. von Goethe Faust I. vi. 134 Such time I've squandered o'er the history.
5. To spend profusely, without securing adequate return; to use in a wasteful manner.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > uselessness > misuse > [verb (transitive)] > waste
spilla1000
scatter1154
aspilla1250
rospa1325
waste1340
spend1390
consumec1425
waste1474
miswenda1500
forsumea1510
to cast away1530
to throw away1561
embezzle1578
squander1593
palter1595
profuse1611
squander1611
ravel1614
sport1622
to fool away1628
to stream out1628
to fribble away1633
sweal1655
frisk1665
to fiddle away1667
wantonize1673
slattera1681
swattle1681
drivel1686
swatter1690
to muddle away1707
squander1717
sot1746
slattern1747
meisle1808
fritter1820
waster1821
slobber1837
to cut to waste1863
fringe1863
potter1883
putter1911
profligate1938
to piddle away1942
haemorrhage1978
spaff2002
1717 R. Bentley Serm. before King George 21 If he squander his Talents in Luxury.
1758 S. Johnson Idler 15 Apr. 9 No words ought to be squandered in declarations of esteem, or confessions of inability.
1796 E. Burke Thoughts Prospect Regicide Peace 61 If they were to send us far from the aid of our King,..to squander us away in the most pestilential climates.
1842 S. Lover Handy Andy xlvii The extraordinary capers Tom cut on the occasion, and the unheard-of lies he squandered.
1857 H. T. Buckle Hist. Civilisation Eng. I. xi. 625 The resources of the country were squandered to an unprecedented extent.
1900 G. T. Stokes Worthies Irish Ch. xii. 232 Much valuable enthusiasm was squandered.
6. intransitive. To roam about; to wander.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > aspects of travel > travel from place to place > [verb (intransitive)] > with no fixed aim or wander
wharvec890
woreOE
wandera1000
rengec1230
wagc1325
roamc1330
errc1374
raikc1390
ravec1390
rumblec1400
rollc1405
railc1425
roit1440
waverc1440
rangea1450
rove1481
to-waver1487
vaguea1525
evague1533
rangle1567
to go a-strayinga1586
vagary1598
divagate1599
obambulate1614
vagitate1614
ramble1615
divage1623
pererrate1623
squander1630
peramble1632
rink1710
ratch1801
browse1803
vagrate1807
bum1857
piroot1858
scamander1864
truck1864
bat1867
vagrant1886
float1901
vagulate1918
pissant1945
1630 J. Taylor Wks. i. 131/2 But at last (I squandring vp and downe)..I happened into a Caue.
1850 Bentley's Misc. Jan. 37 The way they squander about in pairs and single ones is edifying.
7. To disperse in various directions; to scatter.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > arrangement or fact of being arranged > state of being scattered or dispersed > scatter or be dispersed [verb (intransitive)]
scatterc1430
shedc1485
sprattlea1500
spirtle1725
squander1823
the world > movement > motion in a certain direction > going away > go away [verb (intransitive)] > go away in all directions > be driven in all directions
to-flyc1000
to-drevea1225
sparplec1330
to-shedc1330
skaila1400
disparplec1400
scatterc1430
sparklec1440
shedc1485
disrout1525
disparkle1553
shattera1620
disperse1665
squander1823
1823 T. Jefferson Writings (1830) IV. 367 Each shifted for him~self, and left his brethren to squander and do the same as they could.
1827 W. Scott in Croker Papers (1884) I. xi. 319 The disposition seems as if some Yankee general had given the command, ‘Split and Squander’.
1861 F. Metcalfe Oxonian in Iceland 156 His reverence continues his mad career among the horses, who squander right and left in alarm.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1915; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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