Part 572

Prof"it*ing, n. Gain; advantage; profit.

That thy profiting may appear to all.

1 Tim. iv. 15.

Prof"it*less, a. Without profit; unprofitable. Shak.

Prof"li*ga*cy (?), n. [See Profligate, a.] The quality of state of being profligate; a profligate or very vicious course of life; a state of being abandoned in moral principle and in vice; dissoluteness.

Prof"li*gate (?), a. [L. profligatus, p. p. of profligare to strike or dash to the ground, to destroy; pro before + a word akin to fligere to strike. See Afflict.]

1. Overthrown; beaten; conquered. [Obs.]

The foe is profligate, and run.

Hudibras.

2. Broken down in respect of rectitude, principle, virtue, or decency; openly and shamelessly immoral or vicious; dissolute; as, profligate man or wretch.

A race more profligate than we.

Roscommon.

Made prostitute and profligate muse.

Dryden.

Syn. -- Abandoned; corrupt; dissolute; vitiated; depraved; vicious; wicked. See Abandoned.

Prof"li*gate, n. An abandoned person; one openly and shamelessly vicious; a dissolute person. "Such a profligate as Antony." Swift.

Prof"li*gate (?), v. t. To drive away; to overcome. [A Latinism] [Obs.] Harvey.

Prof"li*gate*ly (?), adv. In a profligate manner.

Prof"li*gate*ness, n. The quality of being profligate; an abandoned course of life; profligacy.

Prof`li*ga"tion (?), n. [L. profligatio.] Defeat; rout; overthrow. [Obs.] Bacon.

Prof"lu*ence (?), n. [L. profluentia.] Quality of being profluent; course. [R.] Sir H. Wotton.

Prof"lu*ent (?), a. [L. profluens, p. pr. of profluere; pro forward + fluere to flow.] Flowing forward, [R.] "In the profluent stream." Milton.

Pro*found", a. [F. profond, L. profundus; pro before, forward + fundus the bottom. See Found to establish, Bottom lowest part.] 1. Descending far below the surface; opening or reaching to a great depth; deep. "A gulf profound." Milton.

2. Intellectually deep; entering far into subjects; reaching to the bottom of a matter, or of a branch of learning; thorough; as, a profound investigation or treatise; a profound scholar; profound wisdom.

3. Characterized by intensity; deeply felt; pervading; overmastering; far-reaching; strongly impressed; as, a profound sleep. "Profound sciatica." Shak.

Of the profound corruption of this class there can be no doubt.

Milman.

4. Bending low, exhibiting or expressing deep humility; lowly; submissive; as, a profound bow.