PROF'LIGATE, adjective [Latin profligatus, profligo, to rout, to ruin; pro and fligo, to drive or dash. The word then signifies dashed, broken or ruined in morals. See Flog and Afflict.] Abandoned to vice; lost to principle, virtue or decency; extremely vicious; shameless in wickedness; as a profligate man or wretch. Next age will see A race more profligate than we. Made prostitute and profligate the muse, Debas'd to each obscene and impious use. PROF'LIGATE, noun An abandoned man; a wretch who has lost all regard to good principles, virtue or decency. How could such a profligate as Antony, or a boy of eighteen like Octavius, ever dare to dream of giving law to such an empire? PROF'LIGATE, verb transitive To drive away; a Latin signification. [Not used.] 1. To overcome. [Not used.]
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI