Waste

Waste Waste, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Wasted}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Wasting}.] [OE. wasten, OF. waster, guaster, gaster, F. g[^a]ter 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. w["u]sten, AS. w[=e]stan. See {Waste}, a.] [1913 Webster] 1. To bring to ruin; to devastate; to desolate; to destroy. [1913 Webster]

Thou barren ground, whom winter's wrath hath wasted, Art made a mirror to behold my plight. --Spenser. [1913 Webster]

The Tiber Insults our walls, and wastes our fruitful grounds. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

2. To wear away by degrees; to impair gradually; to diminish by constant loss; to use up; to consume; to spend; to wear out. [1913 Webster]

Until your carcasses be wasted in the wilderness. --Num. xiv. 33. [1913 Webster]

O, were I able To waste it all myself, and leave ye none! --Milton. [1913 Webster]

Here condemned To waste eternal days in woe and pain. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

Wasted by such a course of life, the infirmities of age daily grew on him. --Robertson. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

The younger son gathered all together, and . . . wasted his substance with riotous living. --Luke xv. 13. [1913 Webster]

Full many a flower is born to blush unseen, And waste its sweetness on the desert air. --Gray. [1913 Webster]

4. (Law) To damage, impair, or injure, as an estate, voluntarily, or by suffering the buildings, fences, etc., to go to decay. [1913 Webster]

Syn: To squander; dissipate; lavish; desolate. [1913 Webster]