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thriftless

Adjective
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Lacking frugality or carefulness in spending; in poetry, a critique of excess or a character flaw.

Detailed Definition
The term 'thriftless' describes a person who does not manage their resources wisely, often leading to wastefulness. In the context of the poem, it reflects the speaker's carefree attitude towards life, as they describe themselves as a 'thriftless prodigal of smiles and tears,' suggesting an abundance of emotions without concern for their consequences.
Example
Example in poetry:
“A thriftless prodigal of smiles and tears” presents thriftless as wasteful or improvident with emotion; Shakespeare’s “thriftless praise” can imply lavish expenditure without care; “The thriftless heir scattered coins through the market” gives the economic sense; In a lyric, thriftless generosity may be admired for spontaneity even while it suggests danger or loss
Additional Notes
'Thriftless' is not commonly used in modern English, making it likely to confuse readers unfamiliar with its meaning in this context.; Found in the poem, Long time a child, and still a child by Hartley Coleridge
Also Known As
Wasteful Extravagant Profligate
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