An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

1. To scatter in various directions. To spend or use wastefully.
   

2. To cause to lose (energy, such as heat) irreversibly. See also: → dissipation, → dissipative.

Etymology (EN): From L. dissipatus, p.p. of dissipare “to disperse, squander,” from → dis- “apart” + supare “to throw, scatter.”

Etymology (PE): Eftâl, eftâleš, from eftâlidan “to disperse; to tear; to break,” ultimately from Proto-Ir. *abi-tard-, from *tard- “to pierce, split;” cf. Skt. tard- “to split, pierce, open;” Lith. trandéti “to be eaten by moths or worms;” PIE base *terd-
“to pierce” (Cheung 2007).