different between waster vs wafter

English

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?we?st?/
• Rhymes: -e?st?(?)

Etymology 1

From Middle English wastere, waister, wastar, wastour, equivalent to waste +? -er. Compare Anglo-Norman wastur, Old French gastëor.

Noun

waster (plural wasters)

1. Someone or something that wastes; someone who squanders or spends extravagantly.
2. (dialectal) An imperfection in the wick of a candle, causing it to waste.
3. A destroyer.

   • He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.

4. An item that is spoiled during its manufacture.

Synonyms

• (one who spends extravagantly): See Thesaurus:spendthrift
• (imperfection in the wick): thief

Derived terms

• time-waster

Translations

Etymology 2

Unknown

Noun

waster (plural wasters)

1. (obsolete, chiefly fencing) A kind of cudgel; also, a blunt-edged sword used as a foil.
2. (obsolete, Scotland) A leister; a spear for catching fish.

Anagrams

• Waters, Westra, rawest, tawers, waters

Old French

Verb

waster

1. (Anglo-Norman) Alternative form of gaster

Conjugation

This verb conjugates as a first-group verb ending in -er. The forms that would normally end in *-sts, *-stt are modified to z, st. Old French conjugation varies significantly by date and by region. The following conjugation should be treated as a guide.

Descendants

• ? Middle English: wasten
  • English: waste

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?w?ft?(?)/

Etymology 1

Alteration of Middle English waughter, from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German wachter (“a guard”), from wachten (“to guard”).

Noun

wafter (plural wafters)

1. (obsolete) Armed convoy or escort ship
2. (obsolete) An agent of the Crown with responsibility for protecting specific maritime activities, such as shipping or fishing.

Etymology 2

waft +? -er.

Noun

wafter (plural wafters)

1. One who, or that which, wafts.

   • Thou wafter of the soul to bliss or bane.