Spendthrift

A spendthrift is someone who spends money prodigally and is extravagant and recklessly wasteful. The origin of the word is someone who is able to spend money acquired by the thrift of predecessors or ancestors.

Related Topics:
Money - Prodigally - Thrift - Ancestor

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Historical examples of spendthrifts include George IV, Ludwig II and Marie Antoinette. The term is often applied sarcastically in the press as an adjective to governments who are thought to be wasting public money. William Hogarth's A Rake's Progress displays in graphical form the downwardly spiraling fortunes of a wealthy but spendthrift son and heir who loses his money, and who as a consequence is imprisoned in the Fleet Prison and ultimately Bedlam.

Related Topics:
George IV - Ludwig II - Marie Antoinette - Sarcastically - Adjective - Government - William Hogarth - A Rake's Progress - Son - Heir - Money - Imprisoned - Fleet Prison - Bedlam

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