Waste v.

Forms: 3–7 wast, 4 wost(e, Sc. vast, 4–5 waast(e, 5 vaast, 5–6 wayst(e, 5–6, 8 waist, 6 Sc. vaist, 3– weste. Also 4–5 pa. t. and pple. wast(e. [a. AF., north-eastern OF. waste-r, dial. var. of OF. guaster, gaster (mod.F. gâter to spoil) = Pr. guastar, gastar to devastate, spoil, Sp. gastar, Pg. guastar, to spend, devastate, It. guastare to devastate, damage:—Com. Rom. *wastare, repr. (with influence from the cognate Teut. synonym *wōstjan: see WESTE v.) L. vāstare, f. vāst-us adj. desert, desolate, whence Com. Rom. *wasto: see WASTE a. The verb first appears in English in the 13th c., superseding the native synonym WESTE v., which is etymologically cognate.]

  I.  Transitive uses.

  1.  To lay waste, devastate, ravage, ruin (a land or town, its inhabitants, property, etc.).

c. 1205.  Lay., 22575. [They] scullen þi lond wasten and þine leoden aslan.

1297.  R. Glouc. (Rolls), 2880. Þis lond þat was so riche [they] wastede al to noȝte.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 19479. Fast þai ras … Gain hali kirc, it for to wast.

13[?].  E. E. Allit. P., B. 1178. He wast wyth werre þe wones of þorpes.

1463.  Stat. Roll Irel. 3 Edw. IV., p. 185. Brannyng destruyng and wastyng al the said Ormond is lordships.

1535.  Coverdale, 2 Chron. xxiv. 7. Athalia & hir sonnes haue waisted the house of God.

1591.  Drayton, Harm. Church, Song of Moses & Israelites, v. Euen as the fire doth the stubble wast.

1596.  Edw. III., III. iii. 21. Some of their strongest cities we haue wonne,… And others wasted.

1631.  Gouge, God’s Arrows, I. § 70. 117. An Epidemicall plague wasted the whole world for three yeares together.

1667.  Milton, P. L., XI. 567. Where casual fire Had wasted woods on Mountain or in Vale.

1798.  Southey, Battle of Blenheim, viii. With fire and sword the country round Was wasted far and wide.

1855.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xiii. III. 326. He wasted the lands of the Mackintoshes.

1879.  Froude, Cæsar, xvii. 285. He fell suddenly on the Nervii with four legions, seized their cattle, wasted their country.

  absol.  1667.  Milton, P. L., XI. 784. For now I see Peace to corrupt no less then Warr to waste.

1849.  Aytoun, Lays Scot. Cavaliers (ed. 2), 73. The Moors have come from Africa To spoil and waste and slay.

  2.  Law. To destroy, injure, impair, damage (property); to cause to deteriorate in value; to suffer to fall into decay. Cf. WASTE sb. 7.

c. 1450.  Godstow Reg., 240. So nathelesse that they shold not hegge, wast, nother turne hit [a wood] into tylthe.

1531.  St.-German’s Doctor & Stud., I. xxiii. 37. To restore the place wasted immedyatlye after the waste done.

1543.  trans. Act 6 Edw. I., c. 5. And who that is attaynted of wast, shal lese the thing wasted.

1581.  Lambarde, Eiren., II. vii. (1588), 291. If a man command one to set fire on the house of A,… and by kindling the same fire the house of B. is wasted also.

1628.  Coke, On Litt., I. 355 b. In an Action of Wast … the place wasted is the principall.

a. 1676.  Hale, Prim. Orig. Man., II. x. (1677), 236. In the Survey of Gloucester there are reckoned 23 Burgages and Houses; 16 that were demolished for the building of the Castle, 14 that were wasted.

  3.  To consume, use up, wear away, exhaust, diminish (a thing) by gradual loss; † to reduce in numbers (a family); † to wear out (clothes); † to sell out (an edition); † to evaporate (a liquid). Also with away. Obs. exc. with mixture of sense 9.

c. 1230.  Hali Meid., 29. Þer as muchel is, eauer se þer mare is, se ma beoð þat hit wasteð.

c. 1350.  Leg. Rood, iii. 746. For so þai trowed þat mens fete … Suld cum and ga all ouer þat tre So þat it suld wasted be.

c. 1375.  Sc. Leg. Saints, xviii. (Egipciane), 1002. Vthyr clathis had I nane þane I brocht oure flume Iordane; bot in few ȝeris clene war þai for gret elde wastit away.

c. 1425.  MS. Sloane 73, lf. 201. Whanne þi colour in þi saflour bagge is al wastid or elles ny by wastid.

c. 1470.  Henry, Wallace, IV. 579. Fyfteyn that day he schot to dede of hys hand. Be that his arrous waistyt war and gayne.

1489.  Caxton, Faytes of Armes, I. xix. 60. In the meane whyle thy prouysions and stores be wasted awaye.

1513.  Douglas, Æneis, X. iv. 28. The ile … Sa rich of steill it may nocht wastit be.

1559.  trans. T. Geminus’ Anat., 4/2. The former impressions bothe are nowe wasted.

1577.  Grange, Golden Aphrod., etc., S iv b. My penne is stubbed, my paper spente, my Inke wasted.

1593.  Shaks., Lucr., 959. To … wast huge stones with little water drops.

1604.  E. G[rimstone], D’Acosta’s Hist. Indies, II. vii. 99. The waxe melts nor droppes not, for that the flame doth waste it by little and little as it riseth.

1617.  Moryson, Itin., II. 3. During the said civill warre most of the Noble Families were wasted and some destroied.

1639.  O. Wood, Alph. Bk. Secrets, 189. Boyle all these [herbs] in white wine till the wine be wasted.

a. 1700.  Evelyn, Diary, 12 Dec. 1680. After many daies … the comet was very much wasted.

1708.  J. C., Compl. Collier (1845), 44. We haue wrought … all the Coal we can, with safety venture to Work or take away; and so by chance haue Wrought, or waisted the Colliery.

1709–29.  V. Mandey, Syst. Math., Arith., 17. The Divisor being removed one station, repeat this Process, until all the figures of the Dividend te wasted.

1747.  Wesley, Prim. Physick (1762), 104. It both wastes the Stone and brings it away.

1747.  Mrs. Glasse, Cookery, vi. 63 [Gravy Soup.] Let it stew over a slow Fire, till half is wasted.

1799.  G. Smith, Laboratory, I. 389. When the vat is wasted, fill it with the lye.

1845.  J. Phillips, Geol., in Encycl. Metrop., VI. 702/1. The felspathic portion of the hypersthene rocks of Carrock Fell is so wasted that the crystals of hypersthene and magnetic iron are projected from the surface considerably.

  4.  To consume or destroy (a person or living thing, his body, strength) by decay or disease; to cause to pine, emaciate, enfeeble; to undermine the vitality or strength of. Also with away, † up.

a. 1225.  Ancr. R., 138. Also wiðuten wisdom, fleschs, ase wurm, uoruret hire, & wasteð hire suluen.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 27934. It [lechery] wastes bodi and als catel.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Knt.’s T., 2162. Loo the ook, þat … hath so long a lif.., Yet at the laste wasted is the tree.

c. 1400.  Laud Troy Bk., 5787. Menescen myght was almost wast.

14[?].  Tundale’s Vis., 882 (Wagner). In stronge fire þai brenned ay, Tille þai were nere wasted away.

c. 1480.  Henryson, Cock & Fox, 511. Waistit he wes, of Nature cauld and dry.

1513.  More, Rich. III., Wks. 54/1. Ye shal al se in what wise that sorceres and that other witch of her counsel shoris wife … haue by their sorcery & witchcraft wasted my body.

1540.  Palsgr., Acolastus, II. i. H ij. My bely or panche is all wasted quyte vp or shronke to gether (with lankenesse).

1590.  Spenser, F. Q., III. x. 57. But through long anguish, and selfe-murdring thought, He was so wasted and fore-pined quight, That all his substance was consum’d to nought.

1593.  Shaks., 3 Hen. VI., III. ii. 125. Would he were wasted, Marrow, Bones, and all.

1628.  Ford, Lover’s Mel., IV. iii. The span of time Doth waste vs to our graues.

1686.  trans. Chardin’s Coronat. Solyman, 11. A Potion, that should waste him by degrees.

1766.  Goldsm., Vicar W., xxviii. He feared my daughter’s life was already too much wasted to keep me long a prisoner.

1809.  Med. Jrnl., XXI. 363. These symptoms continued three or four days, and wasted the patients very much.

1815.  Scott, Guy M., iv. He wasted his eyes in observing the stars.

1853.  Kane, Grinnell Exp., xlviii. (1856), 445. We were wasted with ennui.

1861.  M. Pattison, Ess. (1889), I. 33. French wars … which wasted our strength.

  † b.  refl. To consume one’s strength or faculties.

1630.  Bp. Hall, Occas. Medit., lxxi. (1633), 175. And blessed be the memory of those his faithful Servants, that have left their bloud, their spirits, their lives, in these precious papers; & have willingly wasted themselves into these during Monuments, to give light unto others.

  15.  To destroy, annihilate, put an end to (something immaterial, e.g., sin, sorrow). Also with away. Obs.

c. 1325.  Metr. Hom., 11. He sal wit the haligaste Baptiz you and your sinnes waste.

c. 1340.  Hampole, Prose Treat., 3. This name Ihesu … wastys discorde, reformes pese.

c. 1400.  Rule St. Benet (Verse), 844. Befor godes sight I salbe clenc, Yf I waste myne euil dedes bedene.

c. 1440.  York Myst., ii. 52. The more lyght sall be namid þe son, dymnes to wast be downe and be dale.

1477.  Earl Rivers (Caxton), Dictes, 16. Derysion and scornyng putteth away and wastith loue as the fiere doth the bronde.

a. 1500[?].  Chester Pl., Magi’s Oblation, 55. Stench of the Stable it [incense] shall wast.

1535.  Coverdale, Zech. xi. 3. The pryde off Iordane is waisted awaye.

1579.  Spenser, Sheph. Cal., Nov., 201. Ceasse now my song, my woe now wasted is.

1591.  Savile, Tacitus’ Hist., I. xlii. 24. There is question, whether the present feare wasted his speech, or els that he cried aloude.

1641.  J. Jackson, True Evang. T., III. 173. He doth by his Word and Spirit, waste and take away all hatreds, enmities, and antipathies.

1689.  Lady R. Russell, Lett., II. ci. 42. No time … can ever waste my sorrow.

  † b.  refl. To ruin one’s prospects. Obs.

a. 1548.  Hall, Chron., Hen. VII., 49. Perkyn, whether it greued him to be kept inwarde, or els … because he woulde wilfully wast & cast away him selfe, studied how to escape & flye away.

  † 6.  To spoil, diminish the goodness or virtue of, cause to deteriorate. [Cf. F. gâter.] Obs. rare.

1572.  Huloet (ed. Higins), To waste, or spylle, conspurco, deprauo, disperdo.

1669.  Sturmy, Mariner’s Mag., V. xii. 66. That time shall not wast it,… mix it with Brandy.

  † 7.  To diminish or consume the livelihood of, impoverish (a person). Also refl. to spend one’s substance, impoverish oneself; also with out. Obs.

1599.  Sandys, Europæ Spec. (1632), 191. Before they wast out them selves in giving ayde unto him.

1604.  Shaks., Oth., IV. ii. 187. I haue wasted my selfe out of my meanes.

1655.  M. Carter, Honor rediv. (1660), 54. King Stephen … is said to have wasted the Crown, by the many of them [sc. Earls] that he created.

1656.  Earl Monm., trans. Boccalini’s Advts. fr. Parnass., I. lxiv. (1674), 80. Many people having wasted themselves in keeping great Tables.

1727.  De Foe, Eng. Tradesm., I. vi. (1732), 67. He has been oblig’d to trade for less and less, till at last he is wasted and reduc’d.

  † 8.  To spend, part with, diminish one’s store of (money, property); to spend, pass, occupy (time); to get over (a distance in travelling). Obs. (cf. 9.)

c. 1381.  Chaucer, Parl. Foules, 283. Of maydenys swiche as gunne here tymys waste In hyre seruyse.

1590.  Spenser, F. Q., II. ix. 9. So talked they, the whiles They wasted had much way, and measurd many miles.

1596.  Shaks., Merch. V., III. iv. 12. Companions That do conuerse and waste the time together. Ibid. (1600), A. Y. L., II. iv. 95. I like this place, And willingly could waste my time in it.

1614.  Raleigh, Hist. World, II. x. § 4. 390. Fourteene Kings of Iuda comming betweene, who wasted three hundred and odde yeares.

1639.  Du Verger, trans. Camus’ Admir. Events, 321. They related the whole circumstance of their theft, whereof they had wasted a very small matter.

c. 1656.  Milton, Sonn. to Lawrence, 4. Where shall we sometimes meet, and by the fire Help wast a sullen day. Ibid. (1667), P. L., X. 820. Fair Patrimonie That I must leave ye, Sons; O were I able To waste it all my self, and leave ye none!

1697.  Dryden, Æneis, VII. 15. The Goddess wasts her Days In joyous Songs.

1718.  Ramsay, Christ’s Kirk Gr., III. xiv. Wasted was baith cash and tick, Sae ill were they to slocken.

1738.  Gray, Propertius, iii. 62. Each in his proper Art should waste the Day.

1764.  H. Walpole, Otranto, iv. I will withdraw into the neighbouring monastery, and waste the remainder of life in prayers and tears for my child.

  9.  In unfavorable sense: To spend, consume, employ uselessly or without adequate result. (Now the most prominent use.)

  a.  To consume, expend, bestow (money, property) uselessly, with needless lavishness or without adequate return; to make prodigal or improvident use of; to squander. Const. in, on.

1340.  Ayenb., 19. Me halt ane man wod … þet … þe timliche guodes þet he heþ ine lokinge,… wasteþ and despendeþ ine folyes and ine outrages.

1340–70.  Alex. & Dind., 292. We holde hit nedful to nime þat nouht may be wastid.

c. 1375.  Sc. Leg. Saints, xii. (Mathias), 254. Quhene Iudas saw … þe vngymente wes vastit swa.

c. 1380.  Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 13. Ȝif þei wasten delicat metis and drynkis and ȝeuen nouȝt to pore men. Ibid. (1382), Luke xv. 13. And there he wastide his substaunce in lyuynge leccherously.

c. 1450.  Knt. de la Tour, 65. With that that was wasted of her clothes, she might haue clothed .ij. or .iij., the whiche deied for colde.

1596.  Shaks., Merch. V., II. v. 50. Therefore I … part with him To one that I would haue him helpe to waste His borrowed purse.

1848.  Thackeray, Van. Fair, xxxv. His irregularities and his extravagance had already wasted a large part of his mother’s little fortune.

1874.  Green, Short Hist., iii § 5. 141. A sixth of the royal revenue was wasted in pensions to foreign favourites.

1884.  W. C. Smith, Kildrostan, 78. Your father … Had wasted his estate with cards and dice.

  † b.  with away. Obs.

1474.  Caxton, Chesse, III. viii. (1883), 147. He that of custome hath had haboundance of moneye and goth and dispendith hit folily and wasteth hit away.

a. 1600.  Hooker, Eccl. Pol., VII. xxii. § 5. When Mary to testifie the largeness of her affection, seemed to waste away a gift upon him.

1711.  Steele, Spect., No. 252, ¶ 2. I have a Sot of a Husband … that wastes away his Body and Fortune in Debaucheries.

1730.  A. Gordon, Maffei’s Amphith., 340. Those who had wasted away their Substance.

  c.  absol.

1390.  Gower, Conf., II. 139. I bidde noght that thou do wast, Bot hold largesce in his mesure.

1474.  Caxton, Chesse, III. viii. (1883), 147. Yet she doth harme and domage to hym that so wasteth.

1595.  Daniel, Civ. Wars, I. lix. Now he exactes of all, wasts in delight, Riots in pleasure.

a. 1641.  Mun, England’s Treas. (1664), 218. Let Princes oppress,… Usurers bite, Prodigals wast.

1855.  Bohn, Handbk. Prov., 551. Waste not, want not.

  d.  To waste words, breath, † wind: to speak to no purpose; † also refl. in the same sense. Similarly to waste paper, space (i.e., in writing).

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 9788. But all þaire wordis þai wast, & þaire wynd alse.

c. 1480.  Henryson, Cock & Jewel, 159 (Bann.). Of þis mater I do bot waistis wind.

1583.  Melbancke, Philotimus, K iv b. Meaning no more at this time to build Castles in the aire, nor wast my wordes to a deafe man.

1603.  Shaks., Meas. for M., II. ii. 72. You but waste your words.

a. 1647.  Habington, Surv. Worcs., I. 91. That I may not heereafter wast my sealfe in tedious repetitions.

1667.  Dryden, Ind. Emp., III. iii. In vain complaints you vainly waste your Breath.

1709.  Berkeley, Ess. Vision, § 137. As for the idea of motion in abstract, I shall not waste paper about it.

1812.  Shelley, Address Irish People, Prose Wks. 1888, I. 226. They [the early Greek and Roman Christian Church] fought for a long time—a great many words were wasted, and a great deal of blood shed.

1892.  Photogr. Ann., II. 214. Without wasting any more time and space, I will proceed to describe the drawings.

1905.  R. Bagot, Passport, xxxv. 405. We need not waste words in coming to our point.

  e.  To spend, pass, occupy (time, one’s life, etc.) idly or unprofitably. Const. in, on, † to, and inf. Also with away.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 252. To wast þair liif in trofel and truandis.

1495.  Act 11 Hen. VII., c. 22 § 4. Divers artificers … waste moch part of the day and deserve not their wagis.

a. 1547.  Surrey, Æneid, II. 19. The war, Wherin they wasted had so many yeres.

1591.  Shaks., Two Gent., I. i. 51. But wherefore waste I time to counsaile thee. Ibid. (1606), Ant. & Cl., I. iv. 4. He fishes, drinkes, and wastes The Lampes of night in reuell.

1654.  Gataker, Disc. Apol., 103. Not to wast pretious time … in dealing with their filth.

1656.  Cowley, Pindar. Odes, Extasie, i. I have no time in Complements to wast.

1725.  Pope, Odyss., VI. 29. Oh indolent! to waste thy hours away!

1741.  Middleton, Cicero, I. vi. 418. When Clodius rose afterwards to speak, he endeavoured to wast the time so, as to hinder their coming to any resolution that day.

1837.  Dickens, Pickw., xv. But I waste your time, sir…. I know its value, sir. I will not detain you.

1881.  Temple Bar, LXI. 403. I am afraid mademoiselle allowed you to waste a great deal of time in novel-reading.

1884.  Manch. Exam., 21 May, 5/1. The sole aim of the mover … was to waste the time of the House.

1896.  Housman, Shropshire Lad, xi. Lads that waste the light in sighing.

  f.  To employ, put forth (energy, effort, qualities, talents) uselessly or without adequate return. Also refl. Const. on, upon, over.

1340–70.  Alex. & Dind., 238. Hit wasteþ no wisdam weihes to lere.

1390.  Gower, Conf., I. 329. And kep that thou thi witt ne waste Upon thi thoght in aventure.

1728.  Young, Love of Fame, iii. 71. Not all on books their criticism waste.

1854.  Maurice, Mor. & Met. Philos., Philos. 1st 6 Cent., 90. It seems to us that in general too many lamentations are wasted over lost books.

1856.  N. Brit. Rev., XXVI. 258. The temporary character of the subjects on which he wasted himself.

1868.  Ruskin, Pol. Econ. Art, i. 76. We … waste our labour on things that vanish.

1872.  Morley, Voltaire, i. 10. Good causes lost, and noble effort wasted.

1878.  Jevons, Primer Polit. Econ., 30. No one is so foolish as to spend his labour in a place where it would be wasted altogether.

1886.  ‘Maxwell Gray,’ Silence Dean Maitland, I. I. x. 268. He did not, however, waste much thought on this trivial incident.

1891.  Farrar, Darkn. & Dawn, lxvi. To … retire to Spain with the memories of talents wasted, for the most part, over things vain and vile.

  g.  To bestow on unappreciative recipients.

1750.  Gray, Elegy, 56. Full many a flower is born to blush unseen, And waste its sweetness on the desert air.

1812.  Byron, Ch. Har., I. xviii. Why, Nature, waste thy wonders on such men?

  h.  In passive (without distinct reference to an agent). Of something appealing to intelligence or sensibility: To fail to be appreciated; to make no impression on a person. Of a person, his qualities or abilities: To have no opportunity for distinction or usefulness.

1898.  A. M. Binstead, Pink ’Uns & Pelican, 1. Our kindly host … gave it as his unsolicited opinion that two such amusing liars as we were utterly wasted on after-dinner oratory.

1905.  ‘G. Thorne,’ Lost Cause, v. 139. ‘You ought to have been on the music hall stage, vicar,’ Mrs. Stiffe said, ‘you’re wasted in Hornham.’

  Mod.  As I had not read the book, the allusion was wasted on me. He is a profound scholar, but quite wasted as a village schoolmaster.

  i.  To fail to take advantage of, ‘throw away’ (an opportunity).

1836.  Thirlwall, Greece, xxvi. III. 455. The secret correspondence … which induced him to waste the irresistible opportunity of a safe retreat.

1856.  Froude, Hist. Eng. (1858), I. ii. 111. It was not likely that they would waste an opportunity thrust upon them by Providence.

  j.  To cause or allow (a substance, physical energy) to be used unprofitably or lost.

1826.  Art of Brewing (ed. 2), 3. Every particle of matter may be used, and none wasted.

1827.  Faraday, Chem. Manip., xvii. (1842), 466. If these bridges of communication be small, much power will be wasted.

1860.  Tyndall, Glac., II. viii. 265. A considerable portion of the heat … is wasted by radiation.

1920.  Conquest, June, 400/2. The invaluable byproducts are all wasted and escape into the air in the form of smoke.

  10.  To reduce (paper, books) to ‘waste’: see WASTE sb. 11 d.

1883.  Fortn. Rev., April, 499. Many unsaleable books … are ‘wasted,’ that is, are sent to the mill, ground up, pulped down, and made again into paper.

  II.  Intransitive uses.

  11.  a. Of a person or living thing: To lose strength, health or vitality; to lose flesh or substance, pine, decay; to become gradually weak or enfeebled.

a. 1300.  Body & Soul, in Mapes’ Poems (Camden), 336. In unlust for to lye, waste, wane.

1398.  Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XVIII. ix. (1495), 762. The adder absteyneth and wastyth many dayes: that his skynne may so the easelyer be departyd fro the flessh.

c. 1400.  Beryn, 1057. A tre without more, That may not bowe, ne bere fruyt, but root & euer wast.

c. 1460.  Wisdom, 437, in Macro Plays, 50. Wan þey haue wastyde by feyntnes, Than febyll þer wyttis.

1622.  Wither, Faire-Vertue, K 4 b. Shall I wasting in Dispaire, Dye because a Womans faire?

1630.  Bp. Hall, Occas. Medit., lxi. (1633), 144. I had rather waste with worke, then batten with ease.

1635.  J. Hayward, trans. Biondi’s Banish’d Virg., 210. His griefe augmenting his feaver whilst his spirits hourely wasted.

1775.  Sheridan, Duenna, III. v. Ye … gormandize, and thrive, while we are wasting in mortification.

1800.  Med. Jrnl., III. 443. Her appetite declines, her strength and flesh gradually waste.

1840.  Dickens, Old C. Shop, lxiv. In these slow tortures of his dread disease, the unfortunate Richard lay wasting and consuming inch by inch.

1849.  C. Brontë, Shirley, xx. Life wastes fast in such vigils as Caroline had of late but too often kept.

1897.  Allbutt’s Syst. Med., III. 925. The patient is wasting. Ibid., VII. 216. Almost simultaneously … the deltoid begins to waste.

  b.  with away.

1387.  Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), II. 371. Þe þridde age is elde … and wasteþ alle away.

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 4035. Wyndis wastid away, warmyt the ayre.

c. 1430.  Two Cookery-bks., i. 25. In cas þe lycoure wast a-way, caste more of þe same wyne þer-to.

1523–34.  Fitzherb., Husb., § 23. If drye wether come, it [the grass] wyll drye and burne vpon the grounde, and waste away.

1611.  Bible, Job xiv. 10. But man dyeth, and wasteth away.

1711.  Addison, Spect., No. 289, ¶ 2. Were we not counted out by an intelligent Supervisor, we should sometimes be over-charged with Multitudes, and at others waste away into a Desart.

1747.  Wesley, Prim. Physick (1762), 96, note. Such a degree of Scurvy as causes the Flesh to waste away.

1775.  Johnson, Tax. no Tyr., 19. From this time Independence perceptibly wasted away.

1841.  J. H. Newman, Corr. (1917), 163. For centuries she [sc. the Church] has been wasting away, because persons have made the best of things and palliated serious faults.

1848.  Dickens, Dombey, xlviii. I know I’m wasting away…. Burgess and Co. have altered my measure, I’m in that state of thinness.

  c.  Sport. To reduce one’s weight by training. Also refl. (with down).

1763.  Colman, Jealous Wife, V. 82. I have waisted three Stone at least.

1832.  P. Egan’s Bk. Sports, 186/1. Fitzpatrick [a jockey] caught cold in wasting, and died in the prime of life.

1833.  Q. Rev., XLIX. 398. Being occasionally called upon to waste, he [a jockey] feels the inconvenience of his disorder.

1856.  H. H. Dixon, Post & Paddock, xii. 208. He resumed the sweaters, and wasted himself down to a ghastly 7 st. 3 lb. shadow.

1880.  W. Day, Racehorse in Training, xvii. 167. When my father trained, he often wasted by walking on the Downs.

  12.  Of material things: To be used up or worn away; to lose substance or volume by gradual loss or wear or decay. † Of the moon: To wane (obs.).

c. 1375.  Sc. Leg. Saints, l. (Katherine), 126. All ydolis of stok & stane mone nedling rot, & wast, & wane.

c. 1386.  Chaucer, Knt.’s T., 2165. Considereth eek how that the harde stoon, Vnder oure feet on which we trede and goon, Yit wasteth it as it lyth by the weye.

c. 1400.  Maundev. (1919), 39. And þanne þei schewen the bussch þat brenned & wasted nought.

a. 1548.  Hall, Chron., Edw. IV., 232. Promysynge mountaynes of golde, whiche turned into snowe and wasted to water.

1579.  Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 106. Euphues had rather shrinke in the wetting then wast in the wearing.

1600.  Surflet, Country Farm, I. ix. 42. He shall mowe and cut downe his corne with sythe, the moone wasting.

1618.  W. Lawson, Orch. & Gard., vi. (1623), 12. Dry wall of earth, and dry Ditches, are the worst fences saue pales or railes, and doe waste the soonest.

1622.  J. Taylor (Water P.), Shilling, B 5. The whilst a Candle in the Kitchin wasts.

1625.  Bacon, Ess., Plantations (Arb.), 533. Cramme not in People, by sending too fast, Company, after Company; But rather hearken how they waste, and send Supplies proportionably.

1747.  Gentl. Mag., XVII. 28/2. In two months time, the liquor will waste a quart.

1873.  Gosse, On Viol & Flute, 53.

a. 1918.  D. W. Forrest, in Mem., etc. (1919), 160. ‘The more the marble wastes,’ said … Michael Angelo, ‘the more the statue grows.’

  b.  Of riches, non-material things: To be consumed or spent; to dwindle or disappear by gradual loss or diminution.

a. 1400–50.  Wars Alex., 3254 (Dubl. MS.). All þe welth of þis werld waystes be þe last To caryon & corrupcion.

c. 1410.  Lydg., Life Our Lady, lxiii. (MS. Ashm. 39), 85. Of parfite riches hit is tresoryeie Whiche may not waste but Iliche abide.

c. 1460.  Capgrave, Chron. Eng. (Rolls), 104. In his tyme that empire wasted and went to nowt.

1530.  Palsgr., 772/1. All thyng wasteth but the grace of God.

1598.  Chapman, Hero & Leander, iii. 35. Joy grauen in sence, like snow in water wasts.

1656.  Cowley, Mistress, Bathing in River, iii. And with swift current to those joys they haste, That do as swiftly waste.

1657.  Austen, Fruit Trees, II. 30. As grace growes, Corruption wasteth or is kept under.

1715.  Watts, Div. Songs, Sluggard, 12. His money still wastes, till he starves or he begs.

1827.  Keble, Chr. Y., 2 Sund. Lent. If the treasures of thy wrath could waste.

1834.  Ht. Martineau, Farrers, iv. 60. Her traffic declined, her wealth wasted, and she knew, at length, the curse of pauperism.

  † 13.  To lose quality, deteriorate, spoil. (Cf. 6.)

1669.  Sturmy, Mariner’s Mag., V. xii. 66. How to make Powder [so that] it shall not wast with time.

  14.  Of time: To pass away, be spent. (Often conjugated with be.) ? Obs.

c. 1385.  Chaucer, L. G. W., 2678. The nyght is wastid, and he fyl a slepe.

c. 1400.  Destr. Troy, 4030. Comyn was by course þat the cold wyntur Was wastid & went with his wete shoures.

1540.  Test. Ebor. (Surtees), VI. 99. The lif of man upon erthe dothe daylie waist and drawith towarde our ende.

a. 1586.  Sidney, Arcadia, IV. Ecl. (1598), 430. The day was so wasted that onely this riming Sestine … could obtaine fauour to be heard.

1634.  Ford, Perk. Warbeck, I. iii. The night doth waste.

1687.  Dryden, Hind & P., III. 596. So long they flew with inconsiderate haste, That now their afternoon began to waste.

1759.  Ann. Reg., 39/1. The season wasted apace.

1767.  Sterne, Tr. Shandy, IX. viii. I will not argue the matter: Time wastes too fast.

1834.  Landor, Exam. Shaks., Wks. 1846, II. 266. We are losing the day; it wastes toward noon and nothing done.

1847.  C. Brontë, Jane Eyre, xxv. The month of courtship had wasted.