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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.]

Definition 2024

profligate

profligate

English

Adjective

profligate ‎(comparative more profligate, superlative most profligate)

  1. Inclined to waste resources or behave extravagantly.
    • 2013, Ben Smith, "", BBC Sport, 19 October 2013:
      Jay Rodriguez headed over and Dani Osvaldo might have done better with only David De Gea to beat and, as Southampton bordered on the profligate, United were far more ruthless.
  2. Immoral; abandoned to vice.
    • Roscommon
      a race more profligate than we
    • Dryden
      Made prostitute and profligate muse.
  3. (obsolete) Overthrown, ruined.
    • Hudibras
      The foe is profligate, and run.

Synonyms

Derived terms

Translations

Noun

profligate ‎(plural profligates)

  1. An abandoned person; one openly and shamelessly vicious; a dissolute person.
  2. An overly wasteful or extravagant individual.

Synonyms

  • (overly wasteful or extravagant individual): wastrel
  • See also Wikisaurus:spendthrift and Wikisaurus:prodigal

Translations

Verb

profligate ‎(third-person singular simple present profligates, present participle profligating, simple past and past participle profligated)

  1. (obsolete) To drive away; to overcome.
    • 1840, Alexander Walker, Woman Physiologically Considered as to Mind, Morals, Marriage, Matrimonial Slavery, Infidelity and Divorce, page 157:
      Such a stipulation would remove one powerful temptation to profligate pennyless seducers, of whom there are too many prowling in the higher circles ;

Synonyms

  • (to drive away; to overcome): overcome

Related terms

Latin

Adjective

prōflīgāte

  1. vocative masculine singular of prōflīgātus

Etymology

From Latin prōflīgātus ‎(“wretched, abandoned”), participle of prōflīgō ‎(“strike down, cast down”), from pro ‎(“forward”) + fligere ‎(“to strike, dash”).

Pronunciation

  • (adjective, noun, Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈprɒflɪɡət/
  • (adjective, noun, US) enPR: prŏʹflĭgət, IPA(key): /ˈprɑːflɪɡət/
  • (adjective, noun)
  • (verb, Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈprɒflɪɡeɪt/
  • (verb, US) enPR: prŏʹflĭgāt, IPA(key): /ˈprɑːflɪɡeɪt/
  • (verb)

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