Middle English Dictionary Entry
wā̆stful adj.
Entry Info
| Forms | wā̆stful adj. Also wastefulle. |
| Etymology | From wā̆st(e n.(1). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Barren, desolate;
(b) extravagant, prodigal, wasteful; of words: reflective of extravagance, bragging;
(c) devastating, ruinous; of fire: voracious.
Associated quotations
a
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)20.43 : This yl So wastful Is That of non Maner viaunde there-Inne þere nys…But Al Clene Roche…In þat place Is.
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)33.107 : They drowen me faste to An hows In A valeye…wastful & wilde.
b
- a1425 Macaron.Serm.(Bod 649)2:225 (p.67) : Videbis raymen cum tribus liripipiis magnis and wastful cloþinge, feminas cum longis caudis et amplis cornibus.
- (c1449) Pecock Repr.(Cmb Kk.4.26)192 : The hauing and vsing of ymagis and the doing of pilgrimagis ben idil and waastful.
- c1450 Jacob's W.(Sal 103)304/17 : Wast of þi mowth, þat is, wastfull woordys, whann þou spekyst all of þi good…and in þi deying þou thynkest more, & spekyst, of þi wordly muk þan of þi god.
- (1451) Capgr.St.Gilb.(Add 36704)69/28 : In his riding had he no costful hors, no wastful aray, not many hors, ne many seruantis.
- a1475(a1447) Bokenham MAngl.(Hrl 4011)32/14 : Þe ynglysshe peeple…is syngulerly yevyn to gloteny…& moste sumpteous and wastefulle yn mete and drynke & cloþus.
c
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)18230 : Þou prince o tinsel and þou duk O wastful werr, sir belzabuk…þi sothed wel es kydd.
- a1500 Chartier Dial.F.&F.(Sion Arc.L.40.2/E.43)10/26 : I see fyrebrondes and wastful fyres…thorough whych oure comoun wele schall brenne.