wasted

Everyday

1. Wasted means used badly or carelessly, or lost without being useful. tree →
2. A wasted chance or wasted time brought nothing good. tree →
3. Wasted can mean very thin and weak from illness (rare). tree →
4. Waste (noun) is rubbish or things thrown away. tree →

In the lessons

In school maths: an amount lost and taken away; what is left = total − wasted. In science and everyday life: wasted water, food and energy; saving energy by turning off lights; recycling so less is wasted. Phrases: «wasted time», «a wasted trip», «go to waste», «waste of time».

Examples

• He wasted 3 of the 20 sheets. tree →
• Half the water was wasted. tree →
• How much food was wasted? tree →
• 10 minutes were wasted waiting. tree →
• Leaving the tap running means water is wasted. tree →
• It was a wasted trip because the shop was closed. tree →
• Don't let that good food go to waste. tree →
• Turning off the lights stops energy from being wasted. tree →
• What, all that money wasted for nothing! tree →

Note

Past of «waste»: «wasted». Do not confuse «waste» with «waist» (the middle of your body) — they sound the same. Maths: take away from the total; what is left = total − wasted. Trap: «only 2 were wasted» still means subtract 2.

In Jewish tradition

In Numbers, destroyed or brought to ruin. The prophets say nations and fields are "wasted," and in the Psalms bones "wasted away" means a body worn out by sorrow.

Interpretation. Isaiah's wasted nations are read as the fate of those who will not serve God in the time to come. Joel's wasted field is read as a call to repent.

Examples

• Nevertheless Kain shall be wasted; How long? (Torah NUM.24.22, JPS 1917) tree →
• For that nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted. (Prophets ISA.60.12, JPS 1917) tree →
• The field is wasted, the land mourneth; for the corn is wasted, the new wine is dried up, the oil languisheth. (Prophets JOL.1.10, JPS 1917) tree →
• For my life is spent in sorrow, and my years in sighing; my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are wasted away. (Writings PSA.31.11, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Past of «waste»: «wasted». Do not confuse «waste» with «waist» (the middle of your body) — they sound the same. Maths: take away from the total; what is left = total − wasted. Trap: «only 2 were wasted» still means subtract 2.