scattergood
RareArchaic, literary, or humorous
Definition
Meaning
someone who wastes or squanders their money or resources, especially through foolish spending.
A spendthrift; someone who is careless with possessions or wealth, often with connotations of lighthearted but irresponsible behaviour.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word is a compound of 'scatter' + 'good', where 'good' refers to goods or wealth. It is often used as a surname or a mildly humorous, old-fashioned epithet rather than in serious modern critique.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Equally archaic and rare in both dialects. More likely found in historical or literary contexts.
Connotations
May carry a slightly more whimsical, Dickensian tone in British English. In American English, it might be perceived as an obscure, almost forgotten term.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both; primarily encountered in classic literature or as a proper noun (surname).
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
He was a scattergood.She lived the life of a scattergood.They called him Scattergood.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Scattergood's fortune (a quickly diminished fortune)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually unused. Might appear metaphorically in critiques of unsustainable spending.
Academic
Only in historical linguistics or literary studies discussing 18th/19th-century vocabulary.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Potentially used in jest to describe a friend's reckless spending.
Technical
Not applicable.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- His friends called him a scattergood after he bought the expensive car.
- In the old tale, the young scattergood inherited a fortune but had none left within a year.
- The Victorian novelist often portrayed the scattergood as a tragicomic figure, destined for a debtor's prison.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine someone SCATTERing their GOoD money to the winds.
Conceptual Metaphor
WEALTH IS A SUBSTANCE THAT CAN BE SCATTERED (and thus lost).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'добрый' (kind). The 'good' here relates to 'goods' (товары, имущество). A closer conceptual translation is 'мот' or 'расточитель'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'He scattergooded his money'). It is exclusively a noun.
- Using it in formal modern contexts where 'spendthrift' would be standard.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary meaning of 'scattergood'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is considered an archaic or literary term. The modern equivalent is 'spendthrift'.
No, it is exclusively a noun referring to a person.
It is a compound noun from the late 16th century, from 'scatter' + 'good' (in the sense of 'goods' or 'property').
Yes, it is found as a (rare) surname and was the name of a 1940s American film series character, 'Scattergood Baines'.