Dissipated

/ˈdɪsəpeɪtɪd/ adjective

Definition

Scattered or dispersed; or describing someone who has wasted their time and energy on indulgence and pleasure-seeking.

Etymology

From Latin 'dissipatus' (scattered abroad), past participle of 'dissipare' (to scatter), combining 'dis-' (apart) and 'sipare' (to throw or scatter). The meaning evolved from physical scattering to moral or energy scattering.

Kelly Says

The word 'dissipated' is fascinating because it describes both a physical action (smoke dissipating into air) and a moral judgment (a dissipated person), showing how English takes concrete physical ideas and applies them to human behavior and character.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.