dissolute
UK: ˈdɪsəluːt | US: ˈdɪsəluːt
adj. lacking moral restraint; indulging in immoral or excessive pleasure
adj. carelessly wasteful or reckless
dissolute = dis<apart> + solute<loosen>
- dis-: A Latin prefix meaning "apart," "away," or "negation." Here, it intensifies the sense of dissolution.
- solute: Derived from Latin solutus (past participle of solvere, "to loosen, release"). The root implies a state of being "loosened" from moral or behavioral constraints.
Etymology Origin:
The word "dissolute" traces back to Latin dissolutus, meaning "loosened apart" or "broken down." It originally described physical disintegration but evolved metaphorically to describe moral laxity—suggesting a person "unbound" from societal or ethical norms. The shift from literal (physical dissolution) to figurative (moral decay) reflects a common pattern in Latin-derived English words.
His dissolute lifestyle led to financial ruin and social isolation.
The novel portrays a dissolute aristocrat who squanders his fortune.
She abandoned her dissolute habits after a profound personal crisis.
The king’s dissolute reign weakened the kingdom’s stability.
Critics condemned the film for glorifying dissolute behavior.