unthrift

English

Etymology

From Middle English unthrift, equivalent to un- +‎ thrift.

Pronunciation

• (noun) IPA^(key): /ˈʌnθɹɪft/
• (adjective) IPA^(key): /ʌnˈθɹɪft/

Noun

unthrift (countable and uncountable, plural unthrifts)

1. A lack of thriftiness; prodigality.
2. (now rare) Someone who is not thrifty; a spendthrift, someone who is not careful with their money.
   • c. 1515–1516, published 1568, John Skelton, Againſt venemous tongues enpoyſoned with ſclaunder and falſe detractions &c.:

     My ſcoles are not for unthriftes untaught,
     For frantick faitours half mad and half ſtraught;
     But my learning is of another degree
     To taunt theim like liddrons, lewde as thei bee.

   • 1609, William Shakespeare, “Sonnet 9”, in Shake-speares Sonnets. […], London: By G[eorge] Eld for T[homas] T[horpe] and are to be sold by William Aspley, →OCLC:

     Look what an unthrift in the world doth spend ...

   • 1633, John Donne, The Autumnall:

     But name not Winter-faces, whose skin's slacke;
     Lanke, as an unthrifts purse ...

Adjective

unthrift (comparative more unthrift, superlative most unthrift)

1. Unthrifty.
   • 1637, Thomas Heywood, The Royall King, and the Loyall Subject. […], London: […] Nich[olas] and John Okes, for James Becket, […], →OCLC, Act III, signature E4, verso:

     VVots thou vvho's returnd, / The unthrift Bonvile, ragged as a ſcarre-crovv / The VVarres have gnavv'd his garments to the skinne: […]

Middle English

Alternative forms

• unthrifte, unthryft
• (thorn spelling) unþrift, unþryft, vnþryfte

Etymology

un- +‎ thrift

Noun

unthrift (plural unthrifts)

1. A vice; an immoral act.
2. Unthriftiness, profligacy.
3. An unthrifty person; a wastrel.

Descendants

• English: unthrift