Scrounges

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To seek out and obtain resources or possessions from others, often without providing compensation or reciprocation; to gather or forage for necessities in a manner that may seem opportunistic or exploitative; to search diligently through available items or offerings in order to acquire what is needed or desired
2. Engaging in the act of asking for or taking what is available from others, typically in informal or unofficial contexts; rummaging through surroundings to find items of value or use without direct payment; to depend on the generosity or resources of others in order to fulfill one's needs
3. The process of obtaining support or materials from different people, often in an unofficial or casual manner; the act of collecting or salvaging useful items from various sources to satisfy one's requirements; relying on what is offered by others for personal benefit without significant exchange

Etymology: The "-s" on "scrounges" is simply the third-person singular ending of "scrounge," so the story belongs to the base verb. "Scrounge" is informal and probably of dialect origin, and its exact source is uncertain. It is often linked to older English dialect words such as "scrunge," meaning to steal or squeeze, but no firm link has been established. The sense of getting goods by informal means became especially common in military slang, where soldiers "scrounged" equipment, food, or supplies that were not officially issued. That sense of resourceful, unofficial gathering is what most people mean today. The earlier and harsher notion of taking something unlawfully or begging persistently still lingers in the word, which is why it can describe either clever improvisation or a freeloader's habit.

Synonyms: forages, gathers

Antonyms: donates, gives