wasted
UK: ˈweɪstɪd | US: ˈweɪstɪd
adj. 1. Used inefficiently or without purpose (e.g., time, resources).
adj. 2. Physically weakened or emaciated (e.g., from illness).
adj. 3. Slang: Intoxicated by drugs or alcohol.
The word "wasted" derives from the verb "waste," which entered Middle English from Old French "waster" (to devastate or squander), itself rooted in Latin "vastare" (to lay waste). The suffix "-ed" marks it as a past participle, originally indicating the state resulting from the action (e.g., "squandered"). Over time, "wasted" expanded metaphorically: from literal resource depletion to physical decline (16th c.) and later to slang for intoxication (mid-20th c.), reflecting a cultural analogy between dissipation and impairment.
The wasted energy could have powered thousands of homes.
His face looked wasted after months of illness.
She partied all night and was completely wasted.
Avoid wasted efforts by planning ahead.
The drought left the fields wasted and barren.