Wastrel
/ˈweɪ.strəl/noun
A wasteful or good-for-nothing person.
Did you know?The term 'Wastrel' relates to 'waste' and historically referred to a person who squandered resources, echoing themes of loss and neglect in both life and legacy.
Etymological Timeline
Middle English
English
wastrel
“A term for a person who was seen as a wasteful spender or idle.”
Old French
Old French
wastrel
“Derived from 'wastre', meaning 'one who wastes' or 'squanderer'.”
Late Latin
Latin
vastare
“To waste or lay waste, reflecting destruction or ruin.”
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*weǵʰ-
“To be strong, to be lively, but also to destruct, hinting at the dual nature of creation and destruction.”