[UN-1 12.]
1. The quality of being unthrifty; thriftlessness, prodigality, wastefulness; † dissoluteness.
c. 1430. How the Good Wyf, 154, in Babees Bk. (1868), 43. Pride, reste, & ydilnes, makiþ on-þriftines.
a. 1475. G. Ashby, Dicta Philos., 116. Wele manered people bene of goode lif,… Euel named bene often in striff, And men fle theim for thair vnthriftynesse.
1509. Barclay, Shyp of Folys, 141 b. Sawynge in hym sede of moche vnthryftynes And than to spoyle hym; and leue hym pore and bare.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VIII., 149 b. Some fell to drinkyng,… and stealyng of Dere in Parkes, and other unthriftines.
1609. Dekker, Gull’s Horn-bk., 35. You are to cherish the vnthriftinesse of such yong tame pigions, if you be a right gentleman.
1642. Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., I. xiv. 46. Neither wasting his paternall estate by his unthriftinesse, nor marring it by parcelling his ancient mannours … among his younger children.
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, III. 266/2. Unthriftiness, Slothfulness, Carelessness, and Rashness in Business.
1710, 1802–74. in Sc. glossaries (defining Wanthrift).
1801. Vergennes Gaz., 24 Sept. 4/3. Their [southern planters’] laziness and unthriftiness have been often lamented because they do not manufacture for themselves.
† 2. Lack of thriving in growth. Obs. rare.
1707. Mortimer, Husb., 394. When any of its Roots happen to perish,… the unthriftiness of its Branches will quickly discover it. Ibid., 418. The grubbing up of Woods and Trees may be needful upon the account of their Unthriftiness.
