dissipative

Variant of dissipate

transitive verb dissipated, dissipating

  1. to break up and scatter; dispel; disperse
  2. to drive completely away; make disappear
  3. to waste or squander

Origin: ME dissipaten < L dissipatus, pp. of dissipare, to scatter < dis-, apart + supare, to throw < IE base *swep- > Sans svapū, broom, LowG swabbeln, to swab

intransitive verb

  1. to be dissipated; disperse or vanish
  2. to spend much time and energy on indulgence in pleasure, esp. drinking, gambling, etc., to the point of harming oneself

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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