† mis-ˈspense, -ˈence Obs.
Also misp-.
[f. mis-1 4.]
Improper or wasteful expenditure.
| 1591 Garrard's Art Warre 61 Mispence of munition. 1597 Beard Theatre God's Judgem. (1612) 427 The losse of time and mispence of goods. 1627 Bp. Hall Epist. ii. x. 309 If your negligence, your riotous mis-spence, had empaired your estate. a 1677 Barrow Serm. Wks. 1687 I. 395 A wilful mispense of our time. a 1788 in Croft Let. to Pitt on Johnson's Dict. (1788) 40 The misspence of every minute is a new record against us in heaven. |