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profligate

 - 2 dictionary results

prof⋅li⋅gate

[prof-li-git, -geyt]
–adjective
1. utterly and shamelessly immoral or dissipated; thoroughly dissolute.
2. recklessly prodigal or extravagant.
–noun
3. a profligate person.

Origin:
1525–35; < L prōflīgātus broken down in character, degraded, orig. ptp. of prōflīgāre to shatter, debase, equiv. to prō- pro- 1 + -flīgāre, deriv. of flīgere to strike; see inflict, -ate 1


prof⋅li⋅gate⋅ly, adverb
prof⋅li⋅gate⋅ness, noun


1. abandoned, licentious.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To profligate
prof·li·gate   (prŏf'lĭ-gĭt, -gāt')   
adj.  
  1. Given over to dissipation; dissolute.

  2. Recklessly wasteful; wildly extravagant.

n.  A profligate person; a wastrel.

[Latin prōflīgātus, past participle of prōflīgāre, to ruin, cast down : prō-, forward; see pro-1 + -flīgāre, intensive of flīgere, to strike down.]
prof'li·ga·cy (-gə-sē) n., prof'li·gate·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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