vertan
Translation
wasted, squandered, missed (opportunity)
Examples
Die Chance ist nun vertan.
The chance is now wasted.
Das Geld war schnell vertan.
The money was quickly squandered.
Grammar Patterns
((sth.)) is wasted The effort was wasted.
Similar Words
verschwendet (wasted), verpasst (missed); Antonyms: genutzt (used), ergriffen (seized)
Etymology
The past participle of 'vertun', which combines 'ver-' (a prefix often implying error or loss) and 'tun' (to do). The sense is 'done incorrectly' or 'done to loss'.
Memory Tips
Connect 'ver-' with a negative outcome, like in 'verlieren' (to lose). So, 'ver-' + 'tun' (do) = something done that is now lost or wasted.