to waste or squander beforehand; to destroy or use up in advance.
From Old English 'for-' (away, against) + 'waste' (to squander). The prefix 'for-' intensifies the meaning of waste, suggesting a complete or premature destruction.
This word shows how English used to love the prefix 'for-' to mean 'completely' or 'excessively'—it's why we still say 'forgetful' but have lost words like this one that used to fill our language with these intensity markers.
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