dissipation

dissipation

[‚dis·ə′pā·shən]

(physics)

Any loss of energy, generally by conversion into heat; quantitatively, the rate at which this loss occurs. Also known as energy dissipation.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Dissipation

See also Debauchery.

Breitmann, Hans

lax indulger. [Am. Lit.: Hans Breitmann’s Ballads]

Burley, John

wasteful ne’er-do-well. [Br. Lit.: My Novel, Walsh Modern, 79]

Camors

leads selfish, shameless life. [Fr. Lit.: M. de Camors, Walsh Modern, 84]

Carton, Sydney

wasteful bohemian; does not use his talents. [Br. Lit.: A Tale of Two Cities]

Castlewood, Francis Esmond

gambles away living. [Br. Lit.: Henry Esmond]

Christian II

sybaritic king. [Fr. Lit.: Kings in Exile, Walsh Modern, 96]

Chuzzlewit, Jonas

dissipated, wasteful person. [Br. Lit.: Martin Chuzzlewit]

Clavering, Sir Francis

dissipated gambling baronet. [Br. Lit.: Pendennis]

Dalgarno, Lord Malcolm of

wasteful and ruinous; destroys several people. [Br. Lit.: Fortunes of Nigel]

Fitzgerald, F. Scott

(1896–1940) American novelist whose works reflect a life of dissipation. [Am. Lit.: NCE, 957]

Jeshurun

citizens abandon God; give themselves up to luxury. [O.T.: Deuteronomy 32:15]

Mite, Sir Matthew

dissolute merchant; displays wealth ostentatiously. [Br. Lit.: The Nabob, Brewer Handbook, 713]

Pheidippides

his extravagant bets ruin father’s wealth. [Gk. Lit.: The Clouds]

prodigal son

squanders share of money in reckless living. [N.T.: Luke 15:13]

Allusions—Cultural, Literary, Biblical, and Historical: A Thematic Dictionary. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.