wasteyoudaoicibaDictYouDict[waste 词源字典]
waste: [12] The etymological notions underlying waste are ‘emptiness’ and ‘desolation’. Its main modern sense, ‘squander’, is a comparatively recent development, first recorded in English in the 14th century. Its ultimate source is Latin vāstus ‘empty’, which has also given English devastate and vast. From this was formed the verb vāstāre ‘devastate, lay waste’, which passed into English via Old Northern French waster. The derivative wastrel dates from the 16th century.
=> devastate, vast[waste etymology, waste origin, 英语词源]
waste (v.)youdaoicibaDictYouDict
c. 1200, "devastate, ravage, ruin," from Anglo-French and Old North French waster "to waste, squander, spoil, ruin" (Old French gaster; Modern French gâter), altered (by influence of Frankish *wostjan) from Latin vastare "lay waste," from vastus "empty, desolate, waste" (see vain). Related: wasted; wasting.

The Germanic word also existed in Old English as westan "to lay waste, ravage." Spanish gastar, Italian guastare also are from Germanic. Meaning "to lose strength or health; pine; weaken" is attested from c. 1300; the sense of "squander, spend or consume uselessly" is first recorded mid-14c.; meaning "to kill" is from 1964. Waste not, want not attested from 1778.