losel

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Middle English losel (also lorel), from *losen, loren, past participle of lesen (to lose), equivalent to lose + -le.

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈləʊzəl/
  • (US) enPR: lōʹzəl, IPA(key): /ˈloʊzəl/

Noun

losel (plural losels)

  1. (archaic) A worthless or despicable person.
    • 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, II.iii:
      The whiles a losell wandring by the way, / One that to bountie neuer cast his mind, / Ne thought of honour euer did assay […].
    • 1623, William Shakespeare, The Winter's Tale, III.ii:
      And, losel, thou art worthy to be hang'd.
    • 1843, Thomas Carlyle, Past and Present, book 4, chapter III, The One Institution
      These thousand straight-standing firm-set individuals, who shoulder arms, who march, wheel, advance, retreat; and are, for your behoof, a magazine charged with fiery death, in the most perfect condition of potential activity: few months ago, till the persuasive sergeant came, what were they? Multiform ragged losels, runaway apprentices, starved weavers, thievish valets […]
    • 1954, Philip Larkin, Toads:
      Lots of folk live on their wits: / Lecturers,lispers, / Losels, loblolly-men, louts-- / They don't end up as paupers; […]
    • 1964, Anthony Burgess, The Eve of St Venus:
      ‘Come on, you losel,’ he said to Spatchcock, ‘you privy calligrapher, you. You can carry his bottles. I’ll carry him.’

Synonyms

Derived terms

  • loselism
  • loselry

Adjective

losel (comparative more losel, superlative most losel)

  1. Worthless; wasteful.

Anagrams

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