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Webster 1913 Edition

Profligate

Prof′li-gate

,
Adj.
[L.
profligatus
, p. p. of
profligare
to strike or dash to the ground, to destroy;
pro
before + a word akin to
fligere
to strike. See
Afflict
.]
1.
Overthrown; beaten; conquered.
[Obs.]
The foe is
profligate
, and run.
Hudibras.
2.
Broken down in respect of rectitude, principle, virtue, or decency; openly and shamelessly immoral or vicious; dissolute;
as,
profligate
man or wretch
.
A race more
profligate
than we.
Roscommon.
Made prostitute and
profligate
muse.
Dryden.
Syn. – Abandoned; corrupt; dissolute; vitiated; depraved; vicious; wicked. See
Abandoned
.

Prof′li-gate

,
Noun.
An abandoned person; one openly and shamelessly vicious; a dissolute person.
“Such a profligate as Antony.”
Swift.

Prof′li-gate

,
Verb.
T.
To drive away; to overcome.
[A Latinism]
[Obs.]
Harvey.

Webster 1828 Edition

Profligate

PROF'LIGATE

,
Adj.
[L. profligatus, profligo, to rout, to ruin; pro and fligo, to drive or dash. The word then signifies dashed, broken or ruined in morals. See Flog and Afflict.]
Abandoned to vice; lost to principle,virtue or decency; extremely vicious; shameless in wickedness; as a profligate man or wretch.
Next age will see
A race more profligate than we.
Made prostitute and profligate the muse,
Debas'd to each obscene and impious use.

PROF'LIGATE

,
Noun.
An abandoned man; a wretch who has lost all regard to good principles,virtue or decency.
How could such a profligate as Antony, or a boy of eighteen like Octavius,ever dare to dream of giving law to such an empire?

PROF'LIGATE

,
Verb.
T.
To drive away; a Latin signification. [Not used.]
1.
To overcome. [Not used.]

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